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THE BOOK OPENED; 


AN ANALYSIS OF THE 



BY 


ALFRED NEVIN, D. D., 


AUTHOR OF “SPIRITUAL PBOOEKS8IOK,” “CHURCHES OF THE VALLEY,” ETC, 


•f 


This lamp, from off the everlasting throne, 
Mercy took down, and in the niglit of time 
Stood, casting on the dark her gracious bow. 
And evermore beseeching men with tears 
And earnest sighs, to hear, believe, and live. 



; • -- -- i| 

l.Q.Jr* ft-') 


INDIANAPOLIS, IND.: 

THE RELIGIOUS PUBLISHING HOUSE. 

J. E. SHERRILL, PROPRIETOR. 

1882 . 


* 








i 


* 


Copyright. 

J. E. SHERRILL. 

1882 . 





THIS VOLUME 


Xs ©efct cateU 

TO 

SEPTIMUS TUSTIN, l).D. t 

OF WASHINGTON CUT, 

BX-CHAPLAIN OF THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATM, 

AS AN EXPRESSION OF THE AUTHOR’S 


PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL REGARD 







PREFACE 




** Y t essels of moderate draught,” says the author of a re¬ 
cent and valuable work on “ The Evidences of Christianity,” 
“ may go up the tributary streams of public thought, and may 
deal advantageously with the minds of men, where others of 
heavier tonnage could never reach.” In this fact the follow¬ 
ing pages find whatever apology or warrant they require for 
their publication. They are not intended for learned theo¬ 
logians, or for students of Biblical science who have access to 
large libraries, but for Sabbath-school and Bible-class teacheTs 
and scholars, and others who feel the need, as it is believed 
many do, of a convenient and compendious volume, to which 
they can at any time turn for information to aid them in 
understanding and defending the Word of God. They have 
been prepared to serve in this direction as a manual, to which 
recourse can be had with confidence and comfort, for explana¬ 
tions which might be found elsewhere, but only after research 
involving a greater expenditure of time and means. By this 
avowal of their design it is hoped they will be judged. 

It is but just to state that in the construction of the work 
everything has been brought to bear upon its object within 
the author's reach. Desirous of making the book as tho¬ 
rough and complete as due regard to its purpose and popular 
character would admit, he has brought himself under obliga¬ 
tion “ much every way” to others, whose labors have been 
bestowed upon the same region of inquiry and instruction. 
From the productions of some of them he has transferred to 
his own, both in substance and form, a great deal which could 
»* (V) 



VI 


PREFACE. 


not have been omitted without loss, or altered with any im¬ 
provement. This general and grateful acknowledgment of 
indebtedness is designed to look with specialty to the “ Scrip¬ 
ture Help,” from the pen of the Rev. Edward Bickersteth, 
which reached the seventeenth London edition, and was re¬ 
published in this country in 1833, — as well as to another 
little work, entitled “ Bible Remembrancer,” which has also 
an English author, (Rev. Ingram Cobbin), and which, so far 
as is known, has never been issued from the American press. 

It is scarcely necessary to say, that this vade-mecum 
has nothing sectarian in it, except as this may be affirmed of 
the cardinal doctrines of the Scriptures, in the reception and 
maintenance of which all the evangelical branches of the 
Christian Church agree. With some who may be kind 
enough to look into the volume, this may be an objection-to 
it, but to others it will probably prove an attraction. The 
lines of Cowper are applicable now, as well as when they 
were written: — 

"Were love, in these the world’s last doting years, 

As frequent as the want of it appears, 

The churches warmed, they would no longer hold 
Such frozen figures, stiff as they are cold; 

Relenting forms would lose their power, or cease, 

And e’en the dipped and sprinkled live in peace j 
Each heart would quit its prison in the breast, 

And flow in free communion with the rest.” 

The truthfulness and force of these sentiments, praised be 
the Lord! are now beginning to be perceived, and felt by the 
followers of the Lamb. God’s dear people are coming to 
realize that it is what they agree in that makes them Chris¬ 
tians, and what they differ about that makes them sectarians, 
as well as to look with a more solemn and searching eye upon 
their Saviour’s 

“ Holy prayer, 

His tenderest and his last,”— 


PREFACE. 


vii 


“ That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and 
I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world 
may believe that thou hast sent me.” They are awaking to 
the folly, mingled with guilt, of magnifying the separating 
bars between them, while they are minifying the bonds which 
should make them cohere. They are becoming inclined to 
yield more, in a spiritual sense, to the centripetal, and less to 
the centrifugal, force which is bearing upon them, and thus 
approximating their common center, they are coming nearer 
to one another. While they appreciate and guard, as they 
should, until a more excellent way is indicated, their several 
denominational organizations and formulas, they are getting 
ashamed of the too just reproach, that — 

“With zeal wo watch, 

And weigh the doctrine, while the spirit ’scapes, 

And in the carving of our cummin-seeds, 

Our metaphysical hair-splittings, fail 
To note the orbit of that star of love 
Which never sets.” 

This tendency the author freely confesses he would much 
rather take the responsibility of helping than hindering, and 
hence, if any regrets should be felt by his friends as to the 
wholly unsectarian character of the work, it is certain that 
he will be troubled with none himself. 

It may only be added that some of the chapters on distinc¬ 
tive peculiarities of the Bible, here given, were originally 
furnished as communications to a religious journal, but in 
their present form have been enlarged, and perhaps improved. 

With all its imperfections, the volume is sent forth under 
the implored blessing of Him who receives the feeblest tribute 
to His praise, and every well-meant effort in. His service, and 
whom it is man’s chief end to glorify and enjoy for ever. 
Thus attended and endorsed, may it prove at least to some, 
into whose possession it may come, a useful companion to 
the “ Book Divine,” which, it should never be forgotten, is 











viil PREFACE. 

best understood and most loved, when read in the spirit of 
the prayer prefixed to some editions of the early English ver¬ 
sions of it: — 

“0 gracious God and most merciful Father, which hast 
vouchsafed us the rich and precious jewel of thy Holy Word, 
assist us by the Spirit, that it may be written in our hearts, 
to our everlasting comfort, to reprove us, to renew us, accord¬ 
ing to thine own image, to build us up, and edify us, unto 
the perfect building of thy Christ, sanctifying and increasing 
in us all heavenly virtues. Grant this, O Heavenly Father, 
for Jesis Christ’s sake. Amen.” 



CONTENTS. 


Pa 81 

Thk Preservation of the Bible. —The treatment of the Bible 
by its enemies—now printed on the press used by Voltaire and 
the French Institute to disseminate their infidelity—question 
in regard to it at a dinner-party in Edinburgh—it has not even 
been diluted by the lapse of ages—as the truth of God it shall 

never expire. 13 

The Unitv of the Bible. —When, where, and by whom it was 
written—its agreement with itself in the account of facts nar¬ 
rated—the unity of its representations of religious truth—har¬ 
mony existing between the Old and New Testaments—what this 

unity proves... 19 

The Freshness of the Bible. —Anecdote of Queen Elizabeth 
—the Bible wisely made as a field and not as a garden—testi¬ 
monies of its inexhaustibleness from Cecil, Le Clerc, Bishop 

Horne, John Newton, Dr. Arnold, and Robert Hall. 23 

Silence of the Bible. —Silence sometimes more significant than 
speech—Bible like sun-dial teaches by its shadow as well as its 
light—it is silent as to Go v d’s existence, heaven, <fcc.—does not 
minister to human curiosity—its boldness in stating where it 

caunot fully explain is indicative of its inspiration. 35 

The Avoidances of the Bible. —Illustration from a company 
of navigators—sacred writers might have committed themselves 
to some wrong theory—they always held fast the spiritual idea 
—they avoided extravagance in style, any effort to conceal each 
other’s infirmities and sins, and any attempt to explain the 

mystery of the Divine Nature. 40 

The Literature of the Bible. —Opinions of Milton, Sir Mat¬ 
thew Hale, Hon. Robert Boyle, Sir William Jones, and Rous¬ 
seau—the Bible's history—its laconic maxims and rules—its 
parables—its narratives—its incidents of travel—its poetry— 
the aid it has rendered in this species of composition—nothing 
but its religious character prevents its universal and unbounded 

admiration. 4i 

The Bible — the Patriot’s Book. —Patriotism accounted for— 
the mere diffusion of knowledge not sufficient for a nation’s 
prosperity—nor that morality which is the deduction of human 
reason—nor laws—the Bible alone can produce and preserve 
national freedom and happiness—opinions of Perrier, Washing¬ 
ton, and Dugald Stewart. 51 

. («) 










X 


CONTENTS 


Paox 

The Mysteriousness or the Bible.—I nfidels object to the 
Scriptures in a wrong spirit—had there been no difficulties this 
would have been carped at—a book for the world must have 
secrets—there is mystery in every thing—there is a necessity 

for mysteries. 60 

The Bible’s Triumph over Scrutiny.—I t has stood the test of 
geology—astronomy— geography—various readings— an tiqua- 
rian research—statement of Sir H. Rawlinson—letter of Lieu¬ 
tenant Maury.. 67 

The English Bible.—F irst translations of the Bible were pre¬ 
vious to the invention of printing—Wickliffe’s translation— 
Tindal’s translation—Coverdale’s printed edition—Taverner’s 
Bible—the Bishops’ Bible—the Douay Bible—King James' 
Bible—first Biblo printed on the Continent of America—excel¬ 
lence of the received English version of the Bible—ancient 
divisions and order of the Bible—modern divisions of the 

Bible. 7& 

Testimony fob the Bible. —A Society of gentlemen in England 
—opinions of Col. Allen—Lord Byron—Bonaparte—Lord 
Bolingbroke—Rousseau—a Deist—Sir William Jones—Hon. 
Robert Boyle — John Locke — Addison — Salmasius — Lord 
Rochester—Sir Isaac Newton—Selden—Edward VI., of Eng¬ 
land—Wilberforce — Sir Walter Scott — Fisher Ames — John 

Quincy Adams. 93 

The Influence of the Bible on its Enemies.—T ree known 
by its fruits—contrast of Rousseau with Voltaire—of Volney 
with Schwartz—description of dying sceptic—death-scene of 


V oltaire—Mirabeau—Paine — Hobbes — Emerson — description 
of dying Christian—death of Paul—John Knox—Addison— 

Halyburton—Doddridge—Hervey—Toplady—Payson. 104 

Chronological Order of the Books of the Old Testament. 114 

Names of the Bible. 115 

The Books of the Bible (Old Testament).—Some account of 
their authors, their date, and their general character and design, 

with references in each. 117 

The Apocryphal Books. 154 

Books of the Old Testament. —The number of chapters they 

severally contain. 157 

Close of the Old Testament. —Close of its history—its pro¬ 
phecies—completion of the Canon. 158 

Civil and Moral History of the Jews from Malachi to 
John the Baptist. 159 













CONTENTS 


xi 

Pack 


Religious Sects among the Jews. —Pharisees — Sadducees— 
Essenes—Scribes and Lawyers—Galileans—Herodians—Prose¬ 
lytes—Samaritans—Christians. 102 

Summary Statement of Events Between the Old and New 

Testaments. 172 

Table of the Books of the New Testament. —Some account 
of their authors—places where written—and the general char¬ 
acter of their contents. 175 

Scripture Difficulties. —Brief explanation of difficult texts, 

• from Genesis to Revelation. 196 

The Flood. —Proof of it from tradition, and mineralogical and 
fossil history—capacity of the Ark—the universality of the 

Deluge—it was a miraculous and supernatural event. 218 

Tower of Babel. —Its design—frequent allusion to it in ancient 

history—opinions as to any remaining traces of it. 224 

Genealogical List of Jacob’s Family. —Account in Gen. xlvi. 

8, 27, shown to be consistent with itself, and with Stephen’s 

statement, in Acts vii. 14. 226 

Destruction of the Canaanites. —They were punished for their 
great wickedness—their destruction is no proof that the Bible 
is not inspired any more than destruction of nations by sword 


and pestilence is proof that there is no moral government of 
the earth—goodness of God prompts him to express his abhor¬ 
rence of sin—there can be no just objection to the Israelites 

being the instruments of the punishment inflicted. 229 

Demoniacal Possession. —List of the cases mentioned in the 
New Testament—-the word demons properly signifies devils — 
possessions were not mere diseases—a distinction is drawn be¬ 
tween curing diseases and casting out devils—evident from lan¬ 
guage of Christ that demoniacs were not persons merely of 
disordered intellect—demoniacs knew our Lord’s character— 
they were not possessed because of any peculiar wickedness—■ 
why cases of this description were so numerous at the com¬ 
mencement of the Christian era...... 233 

Importance of Reading the Bible. —Appreciation of Arch¬ 
bishop Cranmer’s edition by the people—prohibition of reading 
except by nobility in the 34th of Henry the VIII—ours an ago 
of light and liberty—every man who believes the Bible is from 
God, will study it attentively—various reasons for reading the 


Scriptures—several directions for doing this. 240 

To Read the Bible through in a Year .. 255 













Xli CONTENTS. 

Paob 

Scripture Explanations. 25S 

Memorable Events, arranged in the Order op Scripture. 259 

OR191N op Nations. 261 

Heathen Monarcbs particularly mentioned in Scripture, 

with the Kings op Judaea, or the Idumean Race. 262 

Physical features op Palestine.—(S howing the progress of 
the seasons, the prevailing winds, and weather, for each month 

in the year.). 263 

Ancient Capitals and Renowned Cities.. 269 

Remarkable Mountains and Hills. 272 

Remarkable Rivers and Lakes. 273 

Prayers. 274 

The Lout’s Prayer Illustrated..... 275 

Symbolical Language used by the Poets and Prophets. 276 

Selah, explanation of the word............... 278 

Key to the Promises. 279 

Threatenings and Warnings...... 288 

Bible Aids for Social and Private Prayer... 293 

Contents op the Bible... 297 

A Collection op the Names and Titles given Jesus Christ... 298 

Names and Titles op the Holy Spirit. 300 

Miscellaneous..... 301 

Instances op Prophecy Compared with History. 305 

Periods op Bible History. 306 

Table of Hebrew Times and Festivals. 307 

Words op Scripture requiring Explanation. 308 

Chronology op our Saviour’s Life.. 310 

Table op Important Events in Propane History during 

Life op Christ. 311 

Parables of Jesus arranged. 311 

Miracles , “ ** ... 312 

Discourses " ** ... 313 

Parables in Old Testament. 314 

Miracles in Acts of Apostles...... 314 

Miracles in Old Testament... 315 

Table op Weights and Measures. 316 

Scripture Proper Names, with their Significations. 318 
































THE BOOK OPENED, 


THE PRESERVATION OF THE BIBLE. 

“ Read and revere the sacred page; a page 
Which not the whole creation could produce, 

Which not the conflagration shall destroy, 

In Nature’s ruins not one letter lost.” 

With what wonder should we gaze upon a fortress 
that had withstood the assaults of succeeding gene¬ 
rations for thousands of years! And with what 
strange interest should we look at a man who, 
during a life of many centuries, had often been cast 
into the sea without being drowned, and drugged 
with strychnine without being poisoned, and riddled 
with bullets without being numbered with the slain ! 
Thus has it been with the Word of God during all 
its history. Men have made it their enemy by their 
bad lives, and then have become its enemies, and 
hated it, and sought to destroy it. 

Jehoiakim, as we read, cut to pieces the Divine 
Roll, and threw it into the fire. About one hundred 
and seventy years before Christ, Antiochus caused 
all the copies of the Jewish Scriptures to be burnt. 

2 13 




14 THE PRESERVATION OF THE BIBLE. 

Three hundred and three years after, Dioclesian, by 
an edict, ordered all the Scriptures to be committed 
to the flames; and Eusebius, the historian, tells us 
he saw large heaps of them burning in the market¬ 
place. Nor has this spirit ever failed to show itself. 
The Bible has, all along its course, had to struggle 
against opposition, visible and latent, artful and vio¬ 
lent. It has had to contend with the prevalence of 
error, the tyranny of passion, and the cruelty of 
persecution. Numerous foes have risen up against 
it — Pagans, who lave aimed to destroy it, and 
Papists who have striven to monopolize it, and un¬ 
godly men, who have hated it for its purity and 
penalties. 

But from all these assaults it has been preserved. 
Though cast into the fire, it has risen triumphantly 
from its ashes; though crushed, yet, like the diamond, 
every part of which when broken exhibits the beauty 
and perfection of the whole, it has proved its inde¬ 
structibility ; and, though sunk in the waters, it has 
come up again studded with the costliest pearls. It 
has survived the shocks of all its enemies, and with¬ 
stood the ravages of time. Like the fabled pillars 
of Seth, which are said to have bid defiance to the 
deluge, it has stood unmoved in the midst of that 
flood which sweeps away men, with their labors, into 
oblivion. 

Oh, what wreck and ruin meet the eye as it glances 
at the past! Thrones have crumbled, empires have 
fallen, and philosophers and their systems have 


THE PRESERVATION OF THE BIBLE. 15 


vanished away. The very monuments of man’s 
power have been converted into the mockery of his 
weakness. His eternal cities moulder in their ruins, 
and the serpent hisses in the cabinet where he 
planned his empire, and echo is startled by the foot 
which breaks the silence that has reigned for ages 
in his hall of feast and song. Yet, notwithstanding 
all this desolation, the stream which first bubbled up 
at the foot of the Eternal Throne has continued to 
roll on with silent majesty and might, bearing down 
each opposing barrier, and declaring to perishing 
multitudes on its brink, that, while “all flesh is grass, 
and all the glory of man as the flower of grass, the 
Word of the Lord endureth for ever.” 

No weapon that has ever been formed against the 
Bible has prospered. It has survived the power of 
secret treachery and open violence. The time has 
been when to read it was death. Infidelity has 
fought against it with relentless malignity, but it has 
successfully resisted all its potency, passing unhurt 
through the hands of Julians, and Celsuses, and 
Porphyrys, and defying all the sophistries of Hume, 
and the eloquence of Gibbon, and the innuendoes of 
Kousseau, and the blasphemy of Paine, and the vitu¬ 
perations of Voltaire. The identical press, indeed, 
which was employed by Voltaire and the French In¬ 
stitute to disseminate their attacks upon the Bible, 
has since been used to print the very volume they 
so vainly sought to destroy. 

Thus has the Word of the Lord lived and tri- 


16 THE PRESERVATION OF THE BIBLE. 

umphed. Portions of it were written thousands of 
years ago. Whole libraries of works have perished, 
of much more modern date. Never was book more 
bitterly hated. Most malevolent efforts have been 
put forth for its annihilation. Kings, and emperors, 
and generals, philosophers, statesmen, and legisla¬ 
tors, have all aimed at its extirpation. Yet has it 
flourished, while its adversaries have been blasted 
one after another, and never did it bid so fair as at 
present to be the Book of the whole family of man¬ 
kind. 

Many years ago, at a dinner-party in Edinburgh, a 
gentleman present put a question which puzzled the 
whole company. It was this :—“ Supposing all the 
New Testaments in the world had been destroyed at 
the end of the third century, could their contents have 
been recovered from the writings of the three first 
centuries?” The question was a novel one, and no 
person hazarded a guess in answer to the inquiry. 
About two months after this meeting, Lord Hailes, 
who had been present, said to a friend who visited 
him, as he pointed to a table covered with papers— 
“ There, I have been busy these two months with 
the writers of these centuries, searching for chapters, 
half chapters, and sentences of the New Testament, 
and have marked down what I have found, and where 
I have found it, so that any person may examine 
and see for themselves. I have actually discovered 
the whole of the New Testament from these writings, 
except seven or eleven verses, (I forget which,) which 


THE PRESERVATION OF THE BIBLE. 17 

satisfies me that I could discover them also.” 
“Now,” he added, “here was a way in which God 
concealed or hid the treasures of his Word, that 
Julian, the apostate emperor, and other enemies of 
Christ, who wished to extirpate the gospel from the 
world, would never have thought of, and though they 
had, they never could have effected their destruc¬ 
tion.” 

Thus is it true that God’s word is embalmed and 
perpetuated, in methods which Divine Wisdom alone 
could think of employing. 

Nor is this all. Not only has the Bible not been 
destroyed, but it has not been diluted by the lapse 
of ages. It has not been ruined by the sapping of 
its foundations, or by the incorporation of any new 
element with it, which has marred its integrity, or 
vitiated its purity. With it, like God its author, 
there has been no variableness or shadow of a change. 
The world has suffered its boasted classics to be 
blurred, but the Church can rejoice over the fair 
page of her precious books, assured that the far de¬ 
scent of these venerable treasures has neither altered 
their character nor changed their identity. These 
divine oracles have come down to us in such unim¬ 
paired fulness and accuracy, that we are placed as ad¬ 
vantageously towards them as the generation which 
gazed upon “ that book of the law” to which Moses had 
been adding chronicles and statutes for forty years; 
or those crowds which hung on the lips of Jesus, as he 
recited a parable on the shore of the Galilean lake; 

2 * 


18 THE PRESERVATION OF THE BIBLE. 


or those churches which received from Paul or Peter 
one of their epistles of warning or exposition. 

And thus shall it continue to he. Divine Truth, 
which at first, when, like a little spark, it glimmered 
in the noon of night, many waters could not quench, 
nor floods extinguish, and which every blast of vio¬ 
lence has only served to fan to a larger flame, so 
that now the world is illuminated by its celestial 
light — that Truth shall never — never expire. It 
shall shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect 
day. All its past history shows that it possesses a 
principle of vitality—a victorious power of its own, 
on winch may be grounded the most confident expec¬ 
tation of its final and universal triumph. How great 
the debt of gratitude, then, which we owe to Him 
who has been, and will be, its conservator and 
defence! 


THE UNITY OF THE BIBLE. 

“ Whence but from Heaven could men unskilled in arts, 

In several ages born, in several parts, 

Weave such agreeing truths? or how, or why, 

Should all conspire to cheat us with a lie: 

Unasked their pains, ungrateful their advice, 

Starving their gain, and martyrdom their price.” 

The Bible contains, in all, sixty-six books, by 
forty different writers. These books were written 
amidst the strangest diversity of time, place, and 
condition, — among the sands and cliffs of Arabia, 
the fields and hills of Palestine, in the palaces of 
Babylon, and in the dungeons of Borne. They were 
written in very different forms, — in history, biogra¬ 
phy, parable, letters, proverbs, poems, speeches,— 
and by very different men, kings, shepherds, herds¬ 
men, vine-dressers, tent-makers, and a physician. 
They were written, moreover, in very different cir¬ 
cumstances, in various phases of joy, of sorrow, of 
affliction, and of tribulation, and in very distant 
periods, in successive centuries — more than fifteen 
hundred years having intervened between the first 
writer in Genesis and the last writer in the Apoca- 

bp se - 

Now, in looking at this Book, thus written, with its 
two great divisions, what do we find it to be ? It is 

19 



20 


THE UNITY OF THE BIBLE. 


manifestly pervaded by unity. It has, to the fullest 
extent, that necessary condition of any book which 
is to make a deep impression upon the minds and 
hearts of men,—singleness of purpose, and that pur¬ 
pose kept in view throughout every page. The Old 
and New Testament are undeniably but different 
transcripts of the great and glorious original. “ The 
one is a'lock with wards and interstices, and the 
other is the exquisitely-cut key, which, applied to 
the lock, completely unlocks it, and opens a door 
of entrance t.o the bright vision of light and immor¬ 
tality. The one is the portrait seen by moonlight, 
the other is the same portrait seen by sunlight, the 
one hazy and dim, but still real, the other bright and 
illuminated, like a noonday landscape, on which the 
minutest and most majestic features may be read 
and understood by him that runs while he reads.” 

It is even so. The Bible is the story of the knit¬ 
ting anew the broken relations between the Lord 
God and the race of man. It is a record of moral 
ruin and recovery. It is a history and a develop¬ 
ment of a great plan of salvation conceived in the 
Infinite Mind. It is a narrative of man’s spiritual 
» position, present condition, and future possibilities, 
as a creature once formed in the image of his Maker, 
and still capable, through proffered strength, of re¬ 
gaining that similitude. This is the idea which per¬ 
vades it from its beginning to its end. 

Thus, the Book that was written by persons of so 
widely variant professions, and circumstances, and 


THE UNITY OF THE BIBLE. 


21 


idiosyncrasies, and trials, is always consistent with 
itself. Where there was no collusion there is perfect 
harmony; where there was no preconcert there is 
perfect concord. There was one grand key-note 
which the sacred penmen all struck—Christ, and Him 
crucified. It was with them as it would be with a 
band of musicians who, without previous arrange¬ 
ment, should come together, and, with instruments 
already in tune, perform the same anthem without a 
discordant or jarring note; or, they may be com¬ 
pared to a number of laborers and masons, who have 
no idea of the completed appearance of the edifice 
on which they are employed, but lay stone upon stone 
in blind obedience to the directing architect, until 
the whole stands forth in sublimity and perfection. 

The Book which these inspired men wrote, is evi¬ 
dently a whole; it has a beginning, a middle, and 
an end, it is the realization of one mind executed by 
a number of others. The same spirit and feeling 
pervade the volume. Its ceremonies and dispensa 
tions arise naturally from one another. The same 
golden thread is to be seen running through all its 
pages, beginning, as it does, with Paradise which 
was lost, and stretching itself over long ages, and at 
length bringing us back again where we started, to the 
city of God with its Tree of Life. 

Let some evidence of this alleged unity be con¬ 
sidered. Look at the great facts that are narrated in 
the Scriptures. Of these facts the sacred writers fur¬ 
nish a perfectly harmonious account. The earliest of 


22 THE UNITY OF THE BIBLE. 

them wrote at a later time than some of these events; 
some of them wrote after the occurrence of them all; 
while most of those who wrote subsequently to all, or 
a part of them, make frequent and explicit reference 
to the whole. Whether their statements be more 
or less full, or their references more or less inci¬ 
dental, there is no positive discrepancy in any of 
them. 44 David celebrated in poetry what Moses 
records as a historian, while Stephen, and Peter,'and 
Paul, urge in argument the same facts that are re¬ 
corded by the historian’s pen, and sung by the pro¬ 
phet’s lyre. The historical parts of the New Testa¬ 
ment, as well as of the Old, are in perfect coincidence 
with the more didactic and doctrinal parts. The 
Epistles of Paul, so full of minute specifications, so 
replete with allusions to times, places, persons, and 
events, and written with all the freedom of epistolary 
correspondence, and without any regard to the order 
of events, are found to indicate a minute coinci¬ 
dence with the more extended and exact history given 
by Luke, in the book of the 4 Acts of the Apostles.’ ” 
So with the four Evangelists — their statements, 
though at a great remove from studied uniformity, 
are nevertheless, in regard to the great facts on 
which Christianity is founded, perfectly harmonious 
statements. 44 There is a difference in the narratives, 
but they differ without being contradictory. One 
gives a more full statement than another; one writes 
in chronological order; another interweaves facts as 
they suit his purpose, and without regard to date; 


THE UNITY OF THE BIBLE. 28 

one writes to a different people, and with a different 
object from another, and therefore presents the facts 
with a different phase and complexion; one traces 
the genealogy of the Saviour through the line of 
Mary, and another through the line of Joseph; one 
specifies a distant ancestor by one name, and another 
by another; and, on inquiry, it is ascertained that 
he was identified with both. In some of the gene¬ 
alogical tables any apparent discrepancy that exists 
arises from the fact that one writer records the 
genealogy according to the Hebrew usage, reckon¬ 
ing the descendants by the males only, while another, 
not regarding this genealogical precision, includes 
both the male and female descendants.” 

There is also, in the Scriptures, the most perfect 
unity in all their representations of religious truth.* 
Suppose the Bible to be blotted out of existence, and 
some sixty or seventy persons, scattered through differ¬ 
ent ages of the world, had written on religious sub¬ 
jects, and their works were comprised in a volume. 
Who does not see that such a work would have been 
the merest theological jargon! Let the wild and 
incoherent speculations of heathen philosophy, and 
the thousand varieties of pagan religion, give the 
answer to this demand. 

“ But while these differences are in fact almost end¬ 
less, yet it is the great and undeniable characteristic 
of the Scriptures, that all their instructions are in 
perfect harmony. Their great object is to impart 

* “ Bible not of Man,” by Gardiner Spring, D. D. 


24 


THE UNITY OF THE BIBLE. 


the knowledge of truth. Truth is the great and only 
instrumentality they make use of in order to trans¬ 
form, purify, and elevate the human character. No 
matter how they teach—whether by history, biogra¬ 
phy, song, allegory, parable, argument, or dogmata 
testimony and affirmation—religious truth is so deeply 
and thoroughly interwoven in all they utter, that 
it forms the great and essential element in all their 
instructions. Yet, in all their views, from beginning 
to end, there is the most perfect oneness. No matter 
what the subject of which they treat, all the writers 
speak the same thing. 

“And not only do they all speak the same doctrine, 
but the various doctrines they inculcate all agree 
with each other. They have a mutual dependence 
and connection, they give one another a reciprocal 
support and influence, they grow out of each other, 
and all hang together, alike deriving their ripeness, 
and freshness, and flavor, from the same parent stock. 
Let a diligent student take up a copy of the Scrip¬ 
tures with copious marginal references, and under 
take to collate their instructions upon any one doc¬ 
trine or moral duty, and he will be surprised at the 
uniformity of their teaching. They never speak for 
and against the same doctrine, they never bear wit¬ 
ness on both sides of any question, nor is there an 
instance in which they affirm and deny the same 
thing. That which, in reality, ‘has any Scripture in 
its favor, has all Scripture in its favornor is there 
anything in the Bible against it.” 


UNITY OF THE BIBLE. 


25 


The same thing may be predicated of the Bible 
in relation to the harmony existing between the Old 
and New Testament. They are but different parts 
of one system. Judaism -was the stock, gradually 
growing and strengthening, on which the flower of 
Christianity, “in the fulness of time,” exhibited its 
bud, and unfolded its leaves, ^nd diffused its life-giv 
ing fragrance. The one was the dawn, the other is 
the day; the one -was the infant, the other is the 
full-grown man. The records of both are the same, 
in authority, substance, and mode of communication. 
The same truth, only not with the same fulness and 
clearness, was conveyed in “sundry times” and 
“ divers manners” by the prophets, which was made 
known by the Eternal Word when “ He was made 
flesh, and dwelt among us.” 

Through the Patriarchal, and the Mosaic, and the 
Prophetical dispensations, the same voice was sound¬ 
ing, only in more distant and feeble tones, which 
afterwards echoed amongst the hills and valleys of 
Palestine, as it poured forth the truth in all its divine 
plenitude and power. Examine the two economies, 
and you will see that they are substantially the same. 
The infidel may be challenged to specify a single 
moral law, or one principle of truth, contained in the 
writings of Moses and the Prophets, which is not re¬ 
cognised and honored by having a place in the teach¬ 
ings of Christ and the Apostles. 

In both the Old and the New Testament, Christ 
is set forth as the burden of the promises, the me- 
3 


26 


UNITY OF THE BIBLE. 


# dium of blessings, and the object of saving faith. 
The same^ Sun, both natural and spiritual, which 
now cheers us, hath cheered and enlightened all the 
succeeding generations of the race. Jesus is “the 
Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,” and 
in His name it is the prophet speaks, where he says, 
“ My righteousness shall be for ever, and my salva¬ 
tion from generation to generation.” It was He 
whose day Abraham foresaw, and was glad; it was 
He whom Jacob predicted as the Shiloh, unto whom 
the gathering of the people should be; it was He to 
whom the Baptist pointed as he approached, saying, 
“ Behold the Lamb of God!” and it was He whom 
the banished Apostle saw from the rocky and barren 
isle, “ as it were a Lamb in the midst of the 
throne.” 

Now, how shall we account for this unity of the 
Bible ? Remember what kind of unity it is. “ It 
is not,” says one,* “that apparent unity which 
might be produced by a language common to all its 
parts, for the deepest possible gulf divides the two 
languages in which the Old and New Testament 
were written. Neither is it a unity produced by 
likeness of form, for the forms are various and di¬ 
verse as can be conceived; now song, now history, 
now dialogue, now narrative, now familiar letter, 
now prophetic vision. Neither is it a unity such as 
might arise from all the parts of the book being the 


* French-IIulsean Lectures. 


UNITY OF THE BIBLE. 


27 


upgrowth of a single age, and so all breathing alike 
the spirit of that age; for no single age beheld the 
birth of this book, which was well nigh two thousand 
years ere it was fully formed, and had reached its 
final completion. Nor yet can this unity be ac¬ 
counted for from its having but one class of men for 
its human authors, since men, not of one class alone, 
but of many, and those the widest apart, kings and 
herdsmen, warriors, and fishermen, wise men and 
simple, were employed in writing it. 

The truth is, that deeper than all its outward cir¬ 
cumstances, and in spite of them all, does the unity 
of the volume lie, since all these circumstances, in 
their natural operation, would have tended to an 
opposite result. What, then, is this inviolable uni¬ 
formity which pervades the Scriptures, but on© 
among the many indices of their divine origin ? 
How can it possibly be otherwise regarded? 


» 


THE FRESHNESS OF THE BIBLE. 


** Father! that book. 

With whose worn leaves the careless infant plays, 

Must be the Bible. Therein thy dim eyes 
Will meet a cheering light, and silent words 
Of merey breathed from Heaven, will be exhaled 
From the blest page into thy withered heart.” 

Queen Elizabeth, who spent much of her time 
in reading the best writings of her own and former 
ages, has left on record the following evidence that 
she did not neglect the Book of God : u I walk many 
times in the pleasant fields of the Holy Scriptures, 
where I pluck the goodlisome herbs of sentences by 
pruning, eat them by reading, digest them by mu¬ 
sing, and lay them up, at length, in the high seat of 
memory by gathering them together, so that, having 
tasted their sweetness, I may less perceive the bit¬ 
terness of life.” 

I ask attention to the name by winch the Queen 
designated the venerable volume. She regarded it 
as consisting of “pleasant fields.” There is impor¬ 
tant significance in this descriptive phrase. It was 
certainly possible for God to make his revelation to 
the race in such a form that (according to the de¬ 
mand of the infidel Strauss) “ a man should be able 
to lay his finger upon a precept or a doctrine for 

28 



THE FRESHNESS OF THE BIBLE. 29 

each occurring need, and to find in one place, and 
under one head, all which relates to one matter.” 
It might have been given to us as a systematic body 
of divinity, or as a statute-book, with a digest and 
index accompanying it, so that in a moment, as it 
were, all might be seen that it contains, touching 
any of its credenda and agenda , or its -articles, of 
faith, and its rule of practice. 

But, suppose this arrangement had been adopted, 
would it have carried with it any advantage to us ? 
Think for a moment. How much more pleasant is 
it to wander over a broad and beautiful field, with 
its graceful undulations, and its alternate lights and 
shades, and “its freshly growing plants, with the 
dew upon their leaves, and the mould about their 
roots,” than to walk in the straight, and hard, and 
level, and narrow path of a garden, which is entirely 
the product of constant labor and forced culture? 
How much less agreeable to traverse such a confined 
and stiff enclosure, all of which falls under the eye 
at a single glance, leaving no variety to delight, and 
no discoveries to be made as the step advances, than 
to pass over an expanded territory, on which the 
systematizing influence of art has not yet been 
brought to bear, “ with heights and valleys, forests 
and streams on the right and left of our path, and 
close about us, full of concealed wonders, and choice 
treasures !” 

Now, this is the manner in which the Scriptures 
3 * 


80 THE FRESHNESS OF THE BIBLE. 

have been given to us, and it is impossible not to 
perceive the 'wisdom which it indicates. As thus 
before us, these holy oracles constitute an abiding 
stimulus to research, and an unfailing source of va¬ 
riety and interest. “It is only,” says one, “when 
our energies are roused, and our attention awake; 
when we are acquiring, or correcting, or improving 
our knowledge, that knowledge makes the requisite 
impression upon us. God has not made Scripture 
like a garden, “ where the fruits are ripe, and the 
flowers bloom, and all things are fully exposed to 
our view, but like a field, where we have the ground, 
and seed of all precious things, but where nothing 
can be brought to view without our industry,” nor 
then, without the dews of heavenly grace. 

“ I find in the Bible,” says Cecil, “ a grand pecu¬ 
liarity, that seems to say to all who attempt to sys¬ 
tematize it, I am not of your mind. ... I stand 
alone. The great and the wise shall never exhaust 
my treasures: by figures and parables I will come 
down to the feelings and understandings of the 
ignorant. Leave me as I am, but study me inces¬ 
santly.” 

This is a true view of the Bible. It is so con¬ 
structed as to develop constantly something new. 
It cannot be disposed of at one reading. It de¬ 
mands a vigorous exercise of the understanding. 
No man that has ever lived could be said to have 
read it through . Many, indeed, have perused its 


THE FRESHNESS OF THE BIBLE. 


31 


pages from beginning to end, but these have alwaj^s 
been the first to admit that it required, and would 
bear, perusal again and again, and that the more 
men study it, the more they will be amazed at its 
wonderful depth, and attracted with its magnificent 
beauties. 

The learned Le Clerc tells us, that while he was 
compiling his Harmony, he was so struck with admi¬ 
ration of the excellent discourses of Jesus, and so 
inflamed with the love of his most holy doctrine, 
that he thought that he had but just begun to be ac¬ 
quainted with what he scarcely ever laid out of his 
hands from infancy. During the time that Dr. 
Kennicott was. employed on his Polyglot Bible, it 
was the constant office of his wife, in their daily air¬ 
ings, to read to him those different portions to which 
his immediate attention was called. When prepa¬ 
ring for their ride the day after this great work was 
completed, upon her asking him what book she 
would take, “0,” exclaimed he, “let us begin the 
Bible !” 

“ The fairest productions of human wit,” remarks 
Bishop Horne, “ after a few perusals, like gathered 
flowers, wither in our hands, and lose their fra¬ 
grance, but these unfading plants of Paradise, be¬ 
come, as we are accustomed to them, still more and 
more beautiful; their bloom appears to be doubly 
heightened, fresh odors are emitted, and new sweets 
extracted from them. He who hath once tasted 


32 THE FRESHNESS OF THE BIBLE. 


their excellences, will desire to taste them again, 
and he who tastes them oftenest will relish them 
best.” 

“ I know not a better rule of reading the Scrip¬ 
ture,” says John Newton, “than to read it through 
from beginning to end, and when we have finished 
it once, to begin it again. We shall meet with many 
passages which we can make little improvement of, 
but not so many in the second reading as in the 
first, and fewer in the third than in the second.” 

“ The Bible,” says Cecil, “ resembles an exten¬ 
sive garden, where there is a vast variety and pro¬ 
fusion of fruits and flowers, some of which are more 
essential, or more splendid than others; but there 
is not a blade suffered to grow in it which has not 
its use and beauty in the system. Salvation for 
sinners is the grand truth presented everywhere, 
and in all points of light; but the pure in heart sees 
a thousand traits of the Divine character, of himself, 
and of the world; some striking and bold, others 
cast, as it w T ere, into the shade, and designed to be 
searched for and examined.” 

“ A man’s love of Scripture at the beginning of a 
religious course,” remarked Dr. Arnold, “is such as 
makes the praise which older Christians give to the 
Bible seem exaggerated; but, after twenty or thirty 
years of a religious life, such praise always sounds 
inadequate. Its glories seem so much more full 
than they seemed at first.” 


THE FRESHNESS OF THE BIBLE. 33 


And this experience of the inexhaustibleness of 
the Bible, let it be noted, was not confined to the per¬ 
sons just named. Ten thousand times ten thousand 
witnesses there have been, and there are, that the 
love of the sacred volume grows with the perusal, 
and that it affords to the student of its pages ever 
fresh delight. It is not so with other things. Inte¬ 
rest in them is abated by repetition and familiarity. 
The sweetest song that minstrel ever sang upon 
earth soon becomes hackneyed, and we get tired of 
it. The richest viands, by becoming common, lose 
their relish. The most beautiful landscape loses its 
power to inspire by being often surveyed. Most 
books we read, even those which are most intensely 
interesting and exciting, will not bear reading more 
than twice or thrice. 

This, however, is not true of the Bible. The 
more we read it , the more we desire to read, and 
the more we find to read. It still has, after assidu¬ 
ous and repeated perusal, the charm of novelty, like 
the great orb of day, at which we are wont to gaze 
with unabated astonishment from infancy to old age. 
After all our delving, there are yet profounder 
depths to be sounded ; after all our soaring, there 
are still loftier heights to be scaled. The veteran, 
whose whitened locks, and wrinkled brow, and 
bended form, indicate that the time of his departure 
must be to him the absorbing theme, turns over the 
pages of this volume with an interest undiminished 


34 THE FRESHNESS OF THE BIBLE. 

by accumulating years. The legate of the skies 
brings forth things new from it, as certainly as he 
did when commencing its exposition fifty years ago. 
The public assembly listens to it, when read, from 
year to year, with eyes fixed, and ear awake; an 
attention that never tires, and an interest that 
never cloys. “ Select, if you can,” says Kobert 
Hall, “ any other composition, and let it be ren~ 
dered equally familiar to the mind, and see whe¬ 
ther it will produce this effect.” 


SILENCE OF THE BIBLE. 


Prom some men’s questions more can be learned 
than from other men’s answers. Prom some men’s 
silence more instruction can be derived than from 
other men’s speech. Indeed, it has become a pro¬ 
verb, that it is evidence of wisdom to know when to 
keep quiet. 

“ Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread.” 

The sciolist, whose pride is as great as his ignorance, 
will express himself freely on subjects on which the 
profound scholar prefers to be mute. The one 
knows, the other does not, that an insufficient expla¬ 
nation of a difficult thing is worse than none. Many 
a man has lost a cause at the Bar by not submitting 
it without argument to the good sense of the jury. 
Many a physician has lost the confidence of the pub¬ 
lic by attempting too much, or by showing in his 
talk a want of power of diagnosis, which seasonable 
taciturnity might have concealed. Many a man, in 
entering a gallery of paintings or sculpture, where 
art has placed its grandest achievements, has be¬ 
trayed his utter lack of aesthetic cultivation, by a 
boisterous and pretentious manner — the very oppo¬ 
site of that subdued frame which such productions 
always generate in those who have taste to appre¬ 
ciate them. Many a man, by opening his mouth out 

35 


86 


SILENCE OF THE BIBLE. 


of due time, has sadly changed the impression which 
his appearance and mien had previously made. 

It was remarked by a distinguished scholar, in 
speaking of the Bible, that “ there is such fulness 
in that book, that oftentimes it says much by saying 
nothing, and not only its expressions but its silences 
are teaching, like a dial in which the shadow as well 
as the light informs us.” Beautiful and truthful 
representation ! We are learning, ever learning ; 
not only in the roaring city, but also in the noise¬ 
less forest; not only in the excitements of the day, 
but also in the calm midnight hour; not only in the 
“ quiet might” of the beautiful light, but in the thick 
darkness that brings worlds to our view, which but 
for its gathered curtains would never have been 
visible at all; not only in the raging of the storm, but 
also in the hush which precedes it; and not only in 
the brilliant saloon, with its cheerful crowding throng, 
but also in the chamber of death, where the corpse 
of a loved one is lying, with a fixedness that seems 
to mock the agony that has been occasioned by its 
removal. 

Even so are we ever learning from the pages of 
inspiration, not only when we gaze upon the high 
hills on which Revelation has poured the effulgence 
of its beams, but also when we stand and look upon 
the valleys, and chasms, and blanks, which have been 
left, and can find no other vehicle for our feelings 
than the words, to which an Apostle himself was 
driven, “0, the depth!” 


SILENCE OF THE BIBLE. 


37 


I like the assumption or silent recognition of God’s 
existence, at the beginning of his record. How wise 
was this, in comparison with what a metaphysical 
proof would have been, of a truth which none hut a 
“fool” can deny, and he only “in his heart,” as 
what he wishes , says Lord Bacon, rather than what 
he believes ! I like to read that the Prodigal, though 
he determined, when he was in a far country, to s&y 
to his father, “ Make me as one of thy hired ser¬ 
vants,” yet did not mention his refusal to expect a 
child’s portion and place when embraced by his wel¬ 
coming father. Why ? Because from this apparently 
fortuitous omission “ we may learn wherein the true 
growth in faith and in humility consists; how he that 
has grown in these can endure to be fully and freely 
blest; to accept all even when he most strongly feels 
that he has forfeited all; that only pride and the sur¬ 
viving workings of self-righteousness and evil stand 
in the way of a reclaiming of every blessing which 
the sinner has lost, but which God is waiting and 
willing to restore.” 

I like to sit at the feet of Paul, as he descends 
from the third heavens, and hear him say, *he 
heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful or 
not possible for a man to utter. Some might he 
disappointed that he has nothing to communicate, 
but I am not. I like his silence far better than any 
description that could be given. This is, in fact, the 
most animating description that we could receive, 
just as we have the grandest conception of the moun- 
4 


38 


SILENCE OF THE BIBLE. 


tain’s loftiness because it is hidden in the clouds. 
“ I wish to be defeated in every effort to understand 
futurity. I wish, when I have climbed to the highest 
pinnacle to which thought can soar, to be compelled 
to confess that I have not yet reached the base of 
the everlasting hills. There is something surpassingly 
glorious in this baffling of the imagination. That 
heaven is inconceivable, is the most august, the 
most elevating discovery. It tells me that I have 
not yet the power for enjoying heaven; but this is 
only to tell me that the beholding God 6 face to face,’ 
the ‘ being for ever with the Lord,’ requires the ex¬ 
altation of my nature; and I triumph in the assur¬ 
ance that w r hat is reserved for me pre-supposes my 
vast advancement in the scale of creation.” 

If I had been writing a book that I wished to be 
very popular, I should have been careful to do two 
things, or one of them. First, I would have minis¬ 
tered to human curiosity as much as was in my 
power. I would have made myself acquainted with 
the numerous strange and speculative inquiries which 
men are ever ready to propose, and have answered 
them. Or if this could not have been done, I would 
not have touched any subject that I could not tho¬ 
roughly handle and elucidate. But I find no such 
disposition on the part of God’s amanuenses. If we 
come to them with profitless questions, the oracle is 
dumb. Neither, on the other hand, do they shun a 
subject, though in presenting it clearly enough to be 
seen, they are to leave much of it in shadow. This 


SILENCE OF THE BIBLE. 


39 


independence is very significant. It indicates con¬ 
scious strength. It is not, as is generally supposed, 
the man who talks much that is independent, but the 
individual who talks little or none. The former 
shows his felt weakness, by reaching out of himself 
by conversation to find some support, — the latter 
indicates, by putting forth no such effort, that he is 
self-reliant. 

The “ holy men of old who spoke” and wrote “as 
they were moved by the Holy Ghost,” were not 
afraid to broach a theme, though aware that many 
things concerning it could not be stated. They 
were bold to tell of Lazarus rising, without throwing 
in sketches of his experience “ out of the body.” In 
this view, if it be necessary for men like ourselves to 
speak that we may know them, it is also true that it 
was necessary for God’s prophets, and evangelists, 
and apostles to be, in a great measure, silent , that 
we might know them. Had they undertaken to tell 
us everything, what a different impression would they 
have, made ! And how much in harmony with our 
minds have they acted, by revealing to us all we need 
know about duty and destiny, doubtless all they 
knew themselves, and leaving—as we cannot but feel 
they ought to have left—infinitely more for the explo¬ 
rations, and discoveries, and delights, of the eternal 
future; 


THE AVOIDANCES OF THE BIBLE. 


If a company of men, unpractised in navigation, 
should launch a vessel on a lake or an ocean, and 
shun every reef and shoal, so as to make their voy¬ 
age in safety, no one would refuse them credit for 
their success. All the more, too, would their achieve¬ 
ment challenge admiration, if the waters on which 
they embarked had never been explored, if the 
art of sailing were in its infancy, and if, instead of 
all hands starting together at the commencement of 
the voyage, they had come aboard singly, at different 
stages of the progress. 

I can easily' conceive that the sacred writers 
might have committed themselves to some theory, or 
system of science, or philosophy, in ignorance or 
error, so as to have been dislodged from their posi 
tion. I can easily imagine that they had strong 
temptations to wander into the regions of physical 
and metaphysical disquisition. From their intellec¬ 
tual peculiarities, indeed, as well as the disposition 
which false pretenders to revelation have shown, to 
grasp everything in their alleged inspired capacity, 
there was an a priori probability that they would 
yield themselves to speculations in the various de¬ 
partments of material and mental investigation. 

40 


THE AVOIDANCES OF THE BIBLE. 41 

I find, however, no such tendency indicated by 
them. They show not even a willingness to turn 
aside to entertain, or even to instruct, except for a 
specific purpose. The region of psychology itself is 
entered by them only so far as is necessary for the 
attainment of the object with which they feel them¬ 
selves entrusted. From all they write, it is manifest 
that they have, individually, and without mutual con¬ 
sultation— “ This one thing I do,”— for their motto. 
Always and everywhere they hold fast the spiritual 
idea . No man can read their records without seeing 
that this pervaded them each and all, as the blood, 
starting from a common centre, circulates through 
every portion of the human frame. They aimed to 
make men “ wise unto salvation.” They had a mis¬ 
sion to fulfil, they had a task to perform, and they 
never lost sight of it. They turned away from every 
inducement to do so, just as Jesus declined corona 
tion as an earthly king, and as the Apostles refused 
to be esteemed “gods in the likeness of men,” after 
their miracle in Lystra. 

There were storms of discussion raging around 
these devoted men, and there were billows of earnest 
inquiry meeting them at every point with tremendous 
force, but they yielded to neither. They kept their 
vessel moving steadily on, showing that no wind 
could divert it from its chosen channel, nor any 
wave harm it by concussion, and that, with all their 
acknowledged inexperience and apparent weakness, 
4. * 


42 THE AVOIDANCES OF THE BIBLE. 


they felt conscious of ability to defy every peril. 
They entered into no entangling alliances. Their 
bands had found something to do, and they were de¬ 
termined to do it. They felt themselves to he en¬ 
gaged in a great work, and would not come down to 
foreign and feebler pursuits. 

The inspired penmen avoided extravagance in style. 
Never were events more astonishing than those which 
they recorded, yet they were not carried away with 
any pomp of diction as they related them. There is 
not, perhaps, in the whole gospel, a single artifice to 
call attention to the wonders that are registered. 
Absorbed in their holy task, no alien idea presented 
itself to their mind—the object before them filled it. 
They never digressed, were never called away by the 
solicitations of vanity, or the suggestions of curiosity. 
They left circumstances as they had occurred to 
make their own impressions, instead of adding to 
them any reflections of their own. Feeling that the 
ground was holy on which they stood, invariably did 
they preserve the gravity of history and the severity 
of truth, without enlarging the outline or swelling 
the expression. 

They avoided any effort to conceal or extenuate 
each other’s infirmities and sins. With an artless¬ 
ness that could fear no suspicion, and with the can¬ 
dor which truth ever exhibits, as at once its orna¬ 
ment and its evidence, they tell us of what Noah, 
and Abraham, and Moses, and l)avid, and Peter did, 


THE AVOIDANCES OF THE BIBLE. 43 

that was wrong, that “ he that thinketh he standeth, 
may take heed lest he fall.” 

They avoided (what every one, perhaps, would 
have looked for from them,) an explanation of the 
mode of God’s existence, as Three in One, and One 
in Three, as well as the hypostatical union, or the 
union of the Divine nature of Christ with the human, 
and the reconcileableness of foreknowledge or pre¬ 
destination with free agency, and other problem? 
equally unfathomable. 


THE LITERATURE OF THE BIBLE. 


The Christian always adverts with pleasure to the 
judgment which has been passed, in this respect, 
upon the book which he most loves, by men no less 
justly celebrated for their splendid talents and pro¬ 
found erudition than for their elevated virtues. 
“ There are no songs comparable to the songs of 
Zion — no orations equal to those of the prophets. 
There is no book like it for excellent wisdom, learn¬ 
ing, and use. It is a matchless volume, and it is 
impossible that we can study it too much, or esteem 
it too highly. It contains more sublimity and beauty 
than could be collected, within the same compass, 
from all other books that were ever composed in any 
age or idiom.” 

Such are the opinions, as expressed by themselves, 
of Milton, the immortal poet; Sir Matthew Hale, the 
Chief Justice of the King’s Bench; the Hon. Robert 
Boyle, who, as a philosopher, is ranked with Bacon 
and Newton; and Sir William Jones, the distin¬ 
guished philologist and jurist. Tributes of admira-. 
tion have also been paid to it by men of distinction 
in the world of mind, whose sentiments cannot be 
suspected to have been moulded or colored by reli¬ 
gious experience. Rousseau was the representative 
of not a few of this character, with intellects as 

44 


THE LITERATURE OF THE BIBLE. 45 

bright, but hearts as hard as a mountain of ice, when 
the following eulogium (in an honest hour) flowed 
from his pen: — “ The majesty of the Scriptures 
strikes me with astonishment. Look at the volumes 
of all the philosophers, with all their pomp, how con¬ 
temptible do they appear in comparison with this! 
Is it possible that a book at once so simple and sub¬ 
lime can be the work of man ?” No respectable 
critic, indeed, from the days of Longinus to our own, 
has been willing to blast his reputation by the denial 
that it towers far above all other productions in the 
high and attractive attributes of thought and style. 
Even the most enthusiastic admirers of the heathen 
classics have conceded their inferiority to it in the 
sublime and beautiful, in the descriptive and pathetic,' 
in dignity and simplicity of narrative, in power and 
comprehensiveness, in depth and variety of thought, 
and in purity and elevation of sentiment. 

Nor are these concessions gratuitous, or only 
mainly complimentary, but such as truth and justice 
demand. None of the boasted monuments of human 
wisdom can be compared with this, which has been 
reared by the “ Father of lights.” Look at its his¬ 
tory. Where can any other be found of so great 
antiquity, and in which events so remarkable, either 
for their greatness or variety, are recorded with 
equal plainness, faithfulness, and majesty—such as 
the creation, the introduction of evil, moral and 
physical, the origin of the different languages, the 
beginning of the most ancient nations, and the deluge, 


46 THE LITERATURE OF THE BIBLE. 

with which the present mineralogical and geological 
structures of our earth are connected ? Look at its 
specimens of oratory. Where can our eyes fall upon 
a finer piece of pleading than is furnished in the 
speech of Judah to Joseph, when he and his brethren 
had been brought back to Egypt, by the stratagem 
of putting a silver cup into Benjamin’s sack ? Or a 
greater display of genuine eloquence than we have 
in the defence of Gamaliel’s disciple, as he stood at 
the tribunal of Agrippa, a prisoner in chains, but 
a fearless freeman of the Lord ? 

Look at its laconic maxims, and rules for direction 
in private, social, domestic, and public life. What 
collection of these, not excepting the golden verses 
of Pythagoras themselves, equals the Proverbs of 
Solomon, which Gibbon admitted display a larger 
compass of thought and experience than he supposed 
to belong either to a Jew or a king ? Look at its 
parables. What could be superior, of this kind, to 
Jotham’s of the trees, Nathan’s of the ewe-lamb, and 
those which Jesus spake — the picture of the good 
Samaritan, and the description of the unhappy Pro¬ 
digal—those perfect gems, with their beautiful pro¬ 
portions and admirable delicacy of truth and color¬ 
ing— masterpiec.es, which need no illustration, and 
which additions would only encumber ? Does a 
simple story interest us ? What could be more 
beautiful than that one, bearing the name of the 
youthful Moabitess, in which the widowed distress 
of Naomi, her affectionate concern for her daughters, 


THE LITERATURE OF THE BIBLE. 47 

the reluctant departure of Orpah, the dutiful attach¬ 
ment of Ruth, and the sorrowful return to Bethle¬ 
hem, are so touchingly delineated ? 

As to the incidents of travel, what reader of taste 
and feeling, who has followed the much enduring 
hero of the Odyssey, with growing delight and increas¬ 
ing sympathy, though in a work of fiction, through 
all his wanderings, can peruse with inferior interest 
the genuine voyages of the Apostle of the Gentiles 
over nearly the same seas ? In regard to the sub¬ 
lime, both in sentiment and style, what could exceed 
those single strokes of the sacred writers, by which 
the mightiest events are painted, such as — “ Let 
there be light, and there was light“ Come down, 
0 Babylon, and sit in the dust,” or those represent¬ 
ations by which the perfections and operations of the 
Deity are brought to view—“ Great is Jehovah, and 
of great power, his greatness is unsearchable, his 
understanding is infinite, marvellous things doth he, 
which we cannot comprehend ?” And as for poetry, 
where are tragic strains so mournful and tender as the 
lamentations of Jeremiah, or of David over Saul and 
Jonathan ? What could exceed the music of the song 
of Amoz sweeping the chords to the glory of the 
Holy City ? And what, amidst all the effusions of 
Homer himself, can be compared with Ezekiel’s pre¬ 
diction of the destruction of Egypt, or the Psalmist’s 
representation of God’s ubiquity—“ Whither shall I 
go from thy Spirit ? or whither shall I flee from thy 
presence ? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art 


48 THE LITERATURE OF THE BIBLE. 

there! If 1 make my bed in hell, behold thou art 
there! If I take the wings of the morning * and 
dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there 
shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall 
hold me/’ 

The truth is, that the Bible not only contains un¬ 
equalled specimens of this popular species of compo¬ 
sition, hut it has also rendered important aid in the 
production of those of human origin, which have 
been most universally admired. Shakspeare, Byron, 
and Southey are not a little indebted to it for some 
of their best scenes and inspirations. And had it 
not been for the sacred associations which it has 
thrown around Zion and Olivet, Siloam and Cal¬ 
vary, Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered would not have 
appeared. Neither, without its influences, would 
Paradise Lost have seen the light, or the Night 
Thoughts, the Task, and the Seasons, have been, 
what Montgomery has declared they are, the only 
universally and permanently popular long poems in 
the English language; for the first three of these, as 
will be recollected, are decidedly religious in their 
character, and the last owes its principal charm to 
the pure and elevated spirit of devotion which it 
occasionally breathes. 

It was at this sacred fountain, mainly, that the 
authors of these celebrated productions had their 
fancy enriched with its brilliant treasures. Here 
Milton received the light which has rendered him 


THE LITERATURE OF THE BIBLE. 49 

superior in majesty of thought, and splendor of ex¬ 
pression, to earth’s brightest luminaries ; here Young 
lit up the fires of his immortal muse ; here Cowper 
learned to anticipate the millenial blessedness; here 
Thomson derived much of his excellence, especially 
in the preparation of his supremely admirable hymn; 
and nere, it may oe added, Pope was taught to writo 
of the “ Messiah,” in a manner which eclipses all 
his original productions, “ in combined elevation of 
thought, affluence of imagery, beauty of diction, and 
fervency of spirit.” 

Well has it been said, that all the lovers of truth 
and beauty, of ancient song and ancient lore, 
would admire the Bible, and publish its praises 
trumpet-tongued to earth’s end, were it not for the 
religious doctrines and the moral duties which it 
inculcates. It is a matchless volume, not only for 
its literary excellence, but also for its sublime 
doctrines and holy precepts. It is man’s guide 
to immortality. It is the light which has been 
radiated from the heavenly hills, to make us ac¬ 
quainted with our Maker and ourselves, to direct 
us in the way of duty, and to point us to a glorious 
destiny. , 

“ God’s cabinet of revealed counsel’t is, 

Where weal and woe are ordered so 

That every man may know which shall be his; 

Unless his own mistake false application make. 

6 


50 THE LITERATURE OF THE BIBLE. 

“ It is the index to eternity. 

He cannot miss of endless bliss, 

That takes this chart to steer by, 

Nor can he be mistook that speaketh by this bock. 

“ It is the book of God. What if I should 
Say, God of books, let him that looks 
Angry at that expression, as too bold, 

His thoughts in silence smother, till he find such another 


THE BIBLE—THE PATRIOT’S BOOK. 

Patriotism has in all ages, and by all nations, 
"been deemed one of the noblest passions that can 
warm and animate the breast of man. It is a con¬ 
stituent element in the human constitution. There 
is a principle implanted in us by our Creator which 
prompts us to seek our own safety and happiness. 
But our happiness is inseparably connected with that 
of our family, relations, friends, neighbors, and of 
the whole community subsisting under the same social 
compact, governed by the same laws and magistrates, 
and having a common interest with ourselves. The 
love of one’s country, therefore, is the natural expan¬ 
sion of self-love—a necessary consequence of the 
wise and rational love which a man owes to himself, 
and the individual who is destitute of this affection 
has crushed the instinct of humanity, and is a rebel 
at once against the dictates of reason and the pre¬ 
cepts of religion. 

By what means can national prosperity and per¬ 
petuity be secured ? 

The mere diffusion of knowledge will not be suffi¬ 
cient for this purpose. I would not advance a syl¬ 
lable in disparagement of any efforts to enlighten the 
public mind, but I am thoroughly convinced that the 
adoption of the common school system of instruction 

51 


52 THE BIBLE — THE PATRIOT’S BOOK. 


—the extensive and cheap publication of newspapers 
and books — and the multiplication and endowment 
of academies, lyceums, and colleges, cannot of them¬ 
selves secure a nation’s freedom, union, and happi¬ 
ness. The teaching of reason, here, is in harmony 
with the lessons of history. Men, to be good citi¬ 
zens, must not only know their duty, but be inclined 
to do it. They need more than light. But there is no 
power in mental cultivation to give this disposition. 
Secular sciences — such as that of mechanics, num¬ 
bers, and languages—leave the conscience untouched, 
and this being the case, no result of this nature can 
be expected from them. In all their range, there is 
not a single principle that can connect itself with 
moral feeling, and hence a moral effect from them 
would be an effect without a cause. It would be just 
as natural to look for a knowledge of botany to grow 
out of a knowledge of astronomy. 

And where are the nations of antiquity ! Many 
of them were learned and refined. They are the 
confessed models of genius, and taste, and arts, and 
philosophy. But where are they ? Greece, for in¬ 
stance, had Athens, with her celebrated schools, and 
her Acropolis, as a grand depository for everything 
the most splendid in painting, sculpture, and archi¬ 
tecture. She had Corinth, also, where the arts and 
sciences were carried to such perfection, that Cicero 
termed it, “ totius G-recice lumen.” But where, I 
ask, is Greece now> with her proud cities ? Where 
is Rome, too — imperial Rome—with all her pomp 


THE BIBLE — THE PATRIOT’S BOOK. 53 

and polish—all her intelligence and power ? “ They 

were, but they are not”—their glory has departed. 

And why has this been the melancholy doom of 
all these mighty nations? The reason is at hand: 
the politics they erected and adorned were built 
like Babylon, the capitol of one of the oldest of 
them, with clay hardened only in the sun, which has 
long become a mass of ruin, undistinguished from its 
parent earth. They were without perpetuity, be¬ 
cause they were without the essential element of it. 

The case of France may likewise be appropriately 
referred to. Previously to the revolution which, 
during the last century, shook this country to its 
centre, the people were not ignorant. Twenty thou¬ 
sand persons had been employed in writing books. 
Even in the midst of the most shocking scenes which 
were then exhibited, science was fast advancing. 
La Place was busy with his investigations in astro¬ 
nomy, and in the higher branches of mathematics. 
Chemistry was flourishing in the hands of successful 
cultivators — among whom was Lavoisier , who was 
dragged from the laboratory to the guillotine, to die, 
because he was rich. Indeed, all the branches of 
physical, and many other departments of science, 
were rapidly extending themselves. Why, then, was 
there a “reign of terror?” Why were the founda¬ 
tions of morality more completely subverted than 
probably ever before in any civilized state ? Why 
did selfishness, avarice, revenge, dishonesty, rapacity, 
malignity, licentiousness, impiety, inhumanity and 
5 * 


54 THE BIBLE — THE PATRIOT’S BOOK. 


cruelty, prevail to an extent of which the annals of 
the world, perhaps, furnish no parallel ? Why did 
the Goddess of Liberty retire from the throne as the 
Goddess of Reason was elevated to it ? Let the true 
answer to this inquiry be whatever different persons 
may suppose it to be, the proof is still conclusive, 
that more than knowledge is necessary to save a peo¬ 
ple from the grossest demoralization, from anarchy, 
and from ruin itself. 

The same thing is true in relation to that morality 
which is merely the deduction of human reason. Ex¬ 
periments have been made of the conservative power 
of systems of this description. Paganism had its 
didactic codes, and they contained much that de¬ 
serves to be admired. But though they themselves 
long continued, they could not prevent a general 
depravity of manners. They stood but as the sum¬ 
mit of a rock from the sides of which the vegetable 
mould has fallen, without soil to give root to a prin¬ 
ciple, or to support the bloom, or feed the fragrance 
of a virtue. Not even the men w T ho prepared them 
were governed by them in their conduct. Whilst 
they held up the mirror for others, they could not or 
would not see themselves. They were philosophers, 
professed teachers of wisdom; but, ably as they 
could write on duty—well as they could prescribe for 
the public —■ they were, for their own melioration, 
“ physicians of no value.” Socrates himself, who 
has been more panegyrized than any of the rest, has, 
from his habit of interlarding his conversation with 


THE BIBLE — THE PATRIOT'S BOOK. 55 

profane oaths, and from a visit he made to an Athe¬ 
nian courtezan, dark shades resting upon his cha¬ 
racter, which any man of correct ideas of morality 
in our day would be ashamed of, and would expect 
to cover him with disgrace. And as these codes did 
not operate favorably upon the higher and educated 
classes of society, neither did they, as might readily 
be inferred, improve the lower and illiterate. De¬ 
generacy still abounded. 

Nor is it strange that such was the case. It is 
by no means difficult to account for the fact, that 
these wise men, whilst they saw what was right , and 
approved it , followed that which was evil. Still less 
difficulty is there in understanding why it was that 
the people at large were not benefited by the direc¬ 
tions which they received. These directions or pre¬ 
cepts had nothing to enforce obedience to them . 
They wanted authority. They were a “dead letter" 
—like Sampson, apparently able to accomplish much, 
but like this mighty man when “ shorn of his 
strength." They were regarded as embodying mere 
advice — opinions of teachers, and nothing but 
opinions — which everyone might listen to or not, 
receive or reject, as it suited his, interest, passions, 
principles or humors, without any consciousness of 
violating an obligation; and hence the consequence 
was, what it ever must be in similar circumstances, 
that they proved not to be of sufficient efficacy to 
counteract the innate propensity of men to evil, and 


56 THE BIBLE — THE PATRIOT’S BOOK. 

to overcome the strong temptations to which they 
were constantly exposed. 

Neither will laws , with whatever wisdom they may 
be framed, insure national perpetuity. This is espe¬ 
cially true of such a land as ours. Laws, here, are 
but an expression of the popular will—but the index 
and reflection of public sentiment. That which is 
effected in other countries by gens d'armes and 
horse-guards is effected amongst us by the power of 
self-government, lodged, for the sake of convenience, 
in the hands of our chosen representatives. The 
laws emanate from the people. They do not, there¬ 
fore, as is easily perceived, communicate a spirit of 
obedience, but depend for their efficient operation 
upon the existence of this spirit amongst the larger 
portion of the community over which they extend. 
The public sentiment, then, from which they take 
their character, to be what it ought to be, must be 
acted on by some other influence than can proceed 
from that to which it has given birth. The parent 
must be under some other control than that which 
the child can exert. The lever must have a ful¬ 
crum on which to rest, as it would move the mighty 
mass from vice to virtue. But what is that other in¬ 
fluence which is needed ? It must evidently be a more 
powerful one than can be furnished by awe of public 
opinion, or regard for personal honor or character. 
It must be something that takes hold of the public 
conscience —something that makes a stronger appeal 
to fear and hope, than fines, imprisonment, execu- 


THE BIBLE — THE PATRIOT’S BOOK. 57 

tion, and the desire of present happiness—something 
that points to an eternity, in which there shall he 
reward or punishment, according to the deeds done 
in the flesh. Let this be wanting, and in the “body 
politic,” far deeper than the eye of the law can pene¬ 
trate, humors will gather which will corrupt and 
ruin the sources of its vitality. Let this be wanting, 
and all laws will be but as green withes with which 
the giant of depravity is bound, that he may break 
them, “ as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth 
the fire.” 

Where, then, are we to look for a ground of hope 
that our beloved country shall not, in the lapse of 
years, shore the fate of those nations which have 
started into existence, prospered for a season, and 
then declined and fallen ? I answer, to the Bible. 
The distinguished Perrier, the Prime Minister of 
France, bewildered by the complexity of national 
affairs, and appalled by the refractory and insubor¬ 
dinate spirit of the people, exclaimed on his death¬ 
bed:— ‘‘France must have religion.” The same 
expression, precisely, may be used to denote the ab¬ 
solute necessity of the Bible for the prosperity of 
these United States. They must have the Bible — 
the religion of the Bible. This was the opinion of 
the illustrious Washington, as it is declared in his 
Farewell Address, where he remarks that, “of all 
the dispositions and habits which lead to political 
prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable 
supports;” and then adds, that “whatever may be 


i 


58 THE BIBLE — THE PATRIOT’S BOOK. 


conceded to the influence of refined education on 
minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience 
both forbid us to expect that national morality 
can prevail in exclusion of religious principles.” 
Thus thought, also, that elegant scholar, and 
original, profound, and cautious thinker, — Du- 
gaid Stewart. “ Skepticism,” says he, in his Ele¬ 
ments of the Philosophy of the Human Mind , “is 
an evil of the most alarming nature, and as it ex¬ 
tends in general not only to religion and morality, 
but in some measure also to politics and the conduct 
of life, it is equally fatal to the comfort of the 
individual and the improvement of society. Even 
in its most inoffensive form, when it happens to be 
united with a peaceable disposition and a benevolent 
heart, it cannot fail to have the effect of damping 
every active and patriotic exertion.” 

And this must be the opinion of every intelligent 
man, after proper reflection. For nowhere else 
than in this Holy Book can we meet with a correct 
standard of morals, and an adequate sanction for 
their observance. Nowhere else can we learn what 
is right, why it is so, and that we are bound to do 
it. Here, and here alone, have we laws which, in¬ 
stead of taking cognizance of outward actions only, 
reach into the hidden recesses of the heart, and re¬ 
quire uprightness of intention and purity of princi¬ 
ples. Here, and here alone, have we the religion 
revealed to us which teaches man the importance of 
his character—which presents to us the highest con- 


THE BIBLE — THE PATRIOT’S BOOK. 59 

ceivable motives to justice, to honesty, to kindness, 
and to the exercise of all the best feelings of our na¬ 
ture ; and which, as the discriminating De Tocque- 
ville has remarked, “ is the companion of liberty in 
all its conflicts — the cradle of its infancy, and the 
Divine source of its claims.” Above all, here we 
have the voice of the High and Mighty Ruler of the 
Universe, whose we are and whom we are bound to 
serve, sounding to us from Sinai with its curse, and 
Calvary with its salvation — that God whom right¬ 
eousness alone can please, who punishes communi¬ 
ties in this world and individuals in the next; and 
who, if he speak “ concerning a nation, to pluck up and 
destroy,” will execute the dreadful sentence — how¬ 
ever wise the counsels — however judicious the plans 
—however vigorous the exertions with which he may 
be opposed. The Bible is our hope . To it, under 
the blessing of its Author, we owe the blessed civil 
institutions under which we live, and the glorious 
freedom which we enjoy; and on it, more than all 
other causes combined, their continued existence 
depends. 

“ 0! be thou still our guardian God; 

Preserve these States from every foe; 

From party rage, from scenes of blood, 

From sin, and every cause of wo. 

“ Here may the great Redeemer reign, 

Display his grace, and saving power, 

Here liberty and truth maintain, 

Till empires fall to rise no more.” 


THE MYSTERIOUSNESS OF THE BIBLE. 


Socrates is reported to have said, concerning the 
writings of Heraclitus, that so much of them as could 
be understood must be pronounced excellent and ad¬ 
mirable, and that that portion might be believed to 
be so which could not be understood. It is not by 
the spirit of the ancient sage that objectors to the 
Sacred Scriptures generally are actuated in their 
opposition. They merely carp at the mysterious and 
obscure parts of the volume. These they isolate as 
much as possible from all its sublime and less ques¬ 
tionable portions, and then, wresting them from their 
connection, or perverting them to an import alto¬ 
gether foreign, and surrounding them with the murky 
and distorting atmosphere of hostile matter, pro¬ 
nounce them rocks of offence. 

In answer to the inquiry—“ Do the difficulties or 
mysteries of the Scriptures constitute a valid objec¬ 
tion to them/’ I submit the following considerations : 

1. If there had been no difficulties in the Bible , 
this fact would have been urged against it , and with 
at least as much fairness and force as the objection 
under review is pressed. It is not true that a docu¬ 
ment may challenge belief as inspired because it is 
in part incomprehensible. But it is true, that if a 

60 


THE MYSTERIOUSNESS OF THE BIBLE. 61 

document professing to be inspired, and treating of 
subjects -which could be proved beforehand to be 
above and beyond the grasp of the human intellect, 
should contain nothing to baffle the understanding, 
this very fact would be proof conclusive that the 
document was not divine in its origin. For example, 
if the Bible should give no account of God but one 
in every respect easy and intelligible, Reason, sitting 
in judgment on the alleged Revelation, would decide 
that it wanted the essential evidence of having come 
from above. “ How,” she would triumphantly ask, 
“ can a book be regarded as divine which brings 
down the infinite to the level of the finite ?” 

2. It belongs to the very idea of a book such as the 
Bible , which is intended for the development of the 
higher life of every man in the world , that it should 
have secrets which it never entirely discloses. The 
Bible is not only a book for all men, but it is a book 
for all the life of every man. Hence it follows, as 
every enlightened and honest mind must perceive, 
that it would be fatal to its lasting influence, and to 
the high purposes which it is meant to serve, if any 
one could feel that he had used it up, that he had 
worked it through , that he fully understood it, and 
that there was nothing more in it to attract his inte¬ 
rest or stimulate his research. 

3. There is mystery in everything. The metaphy¬ 
sician inquires into the human mind, and the anato¬ 
mist searches into the veins, and arteries, and joints 
of our physical frame, and they each make many 

6 


62 THE MYSTERIOUSNESS OF THE BIBLE. 

discoveries, but there is a point at which both are 
baffled,—the union of mind and matter, and the 
power of the one over the other. The astronomer 
can calculate with wonderful accuracy the motions 
of the heavenly bodies, but he cannot explain upon 
what all these motions rest. Ask him what the 
quality is, which its discoverer baptized gravitation, 
and he can make no satisfactory reply. Ask him 
why matter should have gravity, and he will answer, 
that it has, is a fact, but why it should have, is a 
mystery. 

So it is ; there are mysteries in everything—mys¬ 
teries in the blades of grass, in the buzzing insects, 
in the sparkling dew-drops, in the gleaming light¬ 
ning, in the grains of sand, in every pulsation of the 
heart, and in every faculty of the mind. 

Now, where, I ask, would be the philosophy, where 
would be the reason of the man who would reject 
these several branches of science because they bring 
him, when legitimately pursued, into a region where 
he must confess himself a little child, and receive the 
facts discovered unexplained ? And with what pro¬ 
priety can any one, knowing, as he must, that there 
are many of the works of God whose nature and de¬ 
sign he cannot understand, and many of the ivays 
of God which are “past finding out,”—knowing, too, 
that the natural attributes of the Godhead themselves 
are incomprehensible by him — that he cannot con¬ 
ceive of Power that has no limits, and Knowledge 
that has no bounds, and Presence which is here, and 


THE MYSTERIOUSNESS OF THE BIBLE. 63 

there, and everywhere, — with what fairness or con¬ 
sistency can any such one, knowing all these things 
to be so, yet believing the truths to which they re¬ 
late, reject the Bible because some parts of it are 
mysterious? Why should he expect in the volume 
of written revelation the intelligibleness which he 
looks for in vain in the volume of Natural Theology ? 
I see not, indeed, how it is possible to reject the 
Scriptures on the ground of mysteriousness without 
being drawn, by the same principle of action, into 
that vacuum in wnich man can neither swim, nor 
stand, nor fly,—the freezing vacuum of atheism, for, 
beyond a doubt, the existence of God, which alone 
furnishes an explanation of everything else, is the 
greatest mystery of all. Without it, as a fundamen¬ 
tal fact, we can understand nothing, and yet it is 
itself encompassed with clouds and obscurity, leading 
us evermore to say,—“ Verily, thou art a God that 
hidest thyself, 0 God of Israel, the Saviour.” 

4. There exists a necessity for mysteries. It is 
essential to the very idea of a Revelation from God 
to man, that whatever is necessary to salvation 
should be made known, for otherwise it would fail 
of its purpose. And all such things have been 
plainly revealed in the Bible. There are, however, 
certain things which it is not necessary for us to 
know, nor are we asked to know them, but only to 
believe them. It is not necessary that we should 
know the manner of the co-eternal existence of the 
Son with the Father; or, how the divine and human 


64 THE MYSTERIOUSNESS OF THE BIBLE. 

natures were united in Christ; or, how the Holy Spirit 
proceedeth from the Father and the Son; or, how 
there can he three persons in one Godhead; or, what 
shall be the particular nature and constitution of our 
bodies at the resurrection: it is enough that we be¬ 
lieve these things. And why should we not believe 
them ? I grant that they are mysterious, but it 
must be remembered that mysteries are not contra¬ 
dictions, but imperfect discoveries ,—truths told, told 
distinctly, but not reasoned upon and explained; 
truths so told that we can boldly say what they are, 
but not so explained as to enable us to say how they 
are. And why should not such mysteries be looked 
for, as a necessity growing out of our constitution 
as finite beings ? If a revelation is, as it must be 
admitted to be, a communication from the infinite 
God to finite man, how can it be questioned that 
there must be some point at which the finite under¬ 
standing will fail to take in that infinite communica¬ 
tion ; in other words, that there must be some point 
in which the revelation will necessarily cease to be 
explanation, and our views will be bounded, and 
mystery will commence ? 

Besides, it is perfectly plain to me, that for any 
one to insist upon a Revelation which would not only 
tell us that such and such things are, but also explain 
how they are , is actually to declare no Revelation to 
be necessary at all, “ for if Reason could follow such 
a Revelation, why might she not have risen herself 
to the same region to which she has shown herself 


THE MYSTERIOUSNESS OF THE BIBLE. 65 


able to follow, and in such a case, which is clearly 
possible, of course there would be no necessity at all 
for the Revelation, for all the topics on which it 
could undertake to give light were previously within 
Reason’s reach.” Her power to understand them 
would show that she had power to discover them. 

5. Mysteries serve great moral purposes. “ Those 
passages,” says Boyle, “that are so obscure as to 
teach us nothing else, may at least teach us humility.” 
Man fell from happiness by pride through a sense of 
his knowledge, and it is a wholesome discipline of his 
nature to be brought to humility through a sense of 
his ignorance, reverencing those sacred truths which 
he cannot comprehend. Again, mysteries tend to 
create religious awe and reverence. Nothing was 
more reverenced by the Jews in their religion than 
the ark not to be touched, and the holy of holies not 
to be entered ; and never is the sun more gazed upon 
and admired than when it labors under an eclipse. 
Again, mysteries tend to the trial and exercise of 
our faith. In the Bible there is light enough to en¬ 
lighten believers, yet obscurity enough to try them; 
and, on the other hand, there is obscurity enough to 
blind infidels, yet light enough to leave them with¬ 
out excuse. “ The word of God,” says an ancient 
writer, “ is bread that nourishes some, and a sw’ord 
that pierces others. It is the odor of life to them 
who live by faith, and die sincerely to themselves, 
and it is the odor of death to those who are alienated 
from God, and live shut up in themselves by pride. 

6 * • 


66 THE MYSTERIOUSNESS OF THE BIBLE. 

In it God has so mixed light and shade, that the 
humble and docile find there nothing but truth and 
comfort, whilst the indocile and presumptuous find 
nothing but error and incredulity. All the difficul¬ 
ties immediately vanish when the mind is cured of 
presumption; then, according to the rule of Augus¬ 
tine, w r e pass over all we do not understand, and are 
edified at what we do understand.” So, too, mys¬ 
teries serve to beget in us a desire for heaven, where 
they will all be cleared up. We are here in a state 
of probation but ?< if we are Christians, we shall be 
there in a state of reward; we are here as sojourners 
only for a time, but we shall be there for ever, where 
darkness will yield to light, and doubt to certainty. 
Now we “walk by faith,” then we shall “walk by 
sight.” “Now we know in part, and we prophesy in 
part, but when that which is perfect is come, then 
that which is in part shall be done away. Now we 
see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; 
now we know in part, but then shall we know even 
as also we are known.” 


THE BIBLE’S TRIUMPH OYER SCRUTINY. 


Every book should be judged by what it purports 
to be. It would be unfair to expect from it what it 
does not propose to give. According to this rule, a 
man has no right to look for instruction in natural 
things in the Bible, which claims to be a spiritual 
revelation. But, at the same time, as it professes to 
be an inspired document, and therefore to contain 
nothing but truth, it is just, we admit, to expect that 
any reference which it makes to natural things will 
be one which may be tested by all scientific dis¬ 
coveries, and which will prove to be thoroughly con¬ 
sistent with them. Now, what have been the results 
of the scientific tests which have been applied to the 
Bible ? I answer, that in all cases philosophy has 
proved herself the handmaid of the revelation which 
divulges secrets far beyond her gaze. 

It is so in geology; for, to say nothing of the fact 
that this science is yet in its infancy, the alleged 
difficulty in reconciling its discoveries with the Mo¬ 
saic Cosmogony is met (if it need be) by the fact that 
the two first verses of Genesis need not be regarded 
as connected with those that follow, and that whilst 

67 


68 TRIUMPH OF BIBLE OVER SCRUTINY. 

these two verses describe the first creation of matter, 
so far as anything to the contrary is stated, a million 
of ages may have elapsed between the first creation 
and God’s formation of our globe. Nor is this a new 
theory of interpretation framed for an unexpected 
emergency, but one that was maintained by tbe im¬ 
mortal Chalmers and others, long before any diffi¬ 
culty on the subject was supposed to exist. 

It is so in astronomy; for though in darker days it 
was felt necessary by ecclesiastics to set th'emselves 
against the investigations of the heavenly bodies, yet 
neither then nor since has anything been developed 
in this direction that conflicts with the testimony of 
Him who sits enthroned “ far above all heavens,” 
who “calleth the stars by their names,” and by the 
word of whose power “ the worlds were made.” 

It is so in geography; for travellers who have 
visited the East, instead of finding anything in those 
countries at variance with the usages, and customs, 
and localities which the Bible describes, have de¬ 
clared that they found it, especially the New Testa¬ 
ment, the best guide to Palestine, and that by its 
statements they were furnished with better directions 
than they derived from any other source. “As our 
knowledge of nature and her laws has increased,’* 
says Lieutenant Maury, in his late work on the 
“Physical Geography of the Sea,” “so has our 
knowledge of many passages of the Bible been im¬ 
proved. The Bible called the earth ‘ the round 
world,’ yet for ages it was the most damnable heresy 


TRIUMPH OF BIBLE OVER SCRUTINY. 69 

for Christian men to say the world is round; and, 
finally, sailors circumnavigated the globe, and proved 
the Bible to be right, and saved Christian men of 
science from the stake. And as for the general 
system of atmospherical circulation, which I have 
been so long endeavoring to describe, the Bible tells 
it all in a single sentence: 6 The wind goeth towards the 
South and turneth about into the North, it whirleth 
about continually, and the wind returneth again to 
his circuits.’ ” Eccles. i. 6. 

Equally marked is the triumph of the Bible in re¬ 
lation to various readings, English infidels of the 
last century raised a premature paean over the dis¬ 
covery and publication of so many various readings. 
They imagined that the popular mind would be rudely 
and thoroughly shaken, that Christianity would be 
placed in imminent peril of extinction, and that the 
Church would be dispersed and ashamed at the sight 
of the tattered shreds of its Magna Charta. But 
the result has blasted all their hopes, and the oracles 
of God are found to be preserved in immaculate in¬ 
tegrity. The storm which shakes the oak only 
loosens the earth around its roots, and its violence 
enables the tree to strike its fibres deeper into the 
soil. 

The same thing is true in relation to antiquarian 
research. All its labors are but cumulative proofs 
of the divinity of the Bible, as ancient cities are dis¬ 
interred and ancient coins discovered. The great 
blow that the infidel philosophers of Europe predicted 


70 TRIUMPH OF BIBLE OVER SCRUTINY. 


would be given to revealed religion by disclosures 
from Chinese literature, proved to be nothing when 
a Christian missionary mastered that language, and 
produced a lexicon containing all its words. Equally 
fruitless was the hope that the mysterious zodiac in 
Egypt would throw the world’s age far beyond the 
date of the Mosaic chronology. I might also refer to 
the statement made by Sir H. Rawlinson in a lecture 
recently delivered under the auspices of theDirectors 
of the Scriptural Museum, London, that “the cunei¬ 
form inscriptions, the key to deciphering which has 
only been discovered within the last twenty years, 
have brought to light a great variety of Assyrian and 
Babylonian historic records, running contemporane¬ 
ously with Scripture narrative, and affording innu¬ 
merable points of contact; and wherever such con¬ 
tact occurs, there is always found to be a coincidence 
between the two, showing incontestably the genuine¬ 
ness and authenticity of Scripture.” 

Thus is it true that the Bible has surmounted 
every trial. There gathers around it a dense 
“ cloud of witnesses,” from the ruins of Nineveh, 
and the valley of the Nile; from the slabs and 
bas-reliefs of Sennacherib, and the tombs and 
monuments of Pharaoh; from the rolls of Chaldee 
paraphrasts and Syrian versionists; from the cells 
and libraries of monastic scribes, and the dry and 
dusty labors of scholars and antiquarians. The 
scepticism of history has been silenced by the vivid 
re-productions of the ancient and eastern world. 


TRIUMPH OF BIBLE OVER SCRUTINY. 71 

And so will it continue to be. The friends of 
revelation have nothing to fear from any discoveries 
that can he made in the heavens above, or the earth 
beneath, or the waters under the earth. Geology 
may dive and delve into our globe’s deepest recesses, 
and astronomy may move along her star-paved way 
until we are dizzied at the story of her ascents; but 
they can bring back no report which will shake the 
pillars of the “sure word of prophecy.” “Let 
science perfect yet more her telescopes, and make 
taller her observatories, and deeper her mines, and 
more searching her crucibles ; let even a new Cuvier 
and another Newton arise, to carry far higher and 
to sink far deeper than it has ever yet been the line 
of human research; and yet will not all this, even 
though the new masters of physical lore should blas¬ 
pheme where the older teachers may have adored, 
bring God into contradiction with himself, or subvert 
the truth which he has given, or eclipse the light 
which shineth in this dark place.” Still will it be 
true, however boldly it may be alleged that Jehovah’s 
works conflict with his word, that the higher deduc¬ 
tions of reason harmonize with moral truth; and soon 
in the blended radiance of science and the wonderful 
testimonies of the Lord, shall nothing be left for 
their mutual friends to deplore but the long want of 
that wise, confiding patience, and that candid forbear¬ 
ance, which would have hastened their union and 
added to their lustre. 


72 TRIUMPH OF BIBLE OVER SCRUTINY. 

The following interesting letter on Science and 
Revelation is from the pen of an author just quoted, 
acknowledged on all sides as one of the most emi¬ 
nent scientific men of his day : 

“Observatory, Washington, January 22, 

“ My Dear Sir —Your letter revived veuy pleasant 
remembrances. * * * Your questions are themes. 
It would require volumes to contain the answers to 
them. You ask about the 4 Harmony of Science and 
Revelation,’ and wish to know if I find ‘ distinct- 
traces in the Old Testament of scientific knowledge ,’ 
and ‘ in the Bible any knowledge of the winds and 
ocean currents' Yes, knowledge the most correct 
and valuable. 

“ 4 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of 
Pleiades?’ 

“It is a curious fact that the revelations of science 
have led astronomers of our own day to the discovery 
that the sun is not the dead centre of motion, around 
which comets sweep and planets whirl; but that it, 
with its splendid retinue of worlds and satellites, is 
revolving through the realms of space, at the rate of 
millions of miles in a year, and in obedience to some 
influence situated precisely in the direction of the 
star Alcyon, one of the Pleiades. We do not know 
how far off in the immensities of space that centre 
of revolving cycles and epicycles may be ; nor have 
our oldest observers or nicest instruments been able 


TRIUMPH OF BIBLE OYER SCRUTINY. 73 


to tell us how far off in the skies that beautiful clus¬ 
ter of stars is hung, whose influences man can never 
bind. In this question alone, and the answer to it, 
is involved both the recognition and exposition of the 
whole theory of gravitation. 

“ Science taught that the world was round; but 
potentates pronounced the belief heretical, notwith¬ 
standing the Psalmist, while apostrophizing the works 
of creation in one of his sublime moods of inspiration, 
when prophets spake as they were moved, had called' 
the world the 4 round world/ and bade it to rejoice. 

“You recollect when Galileo was in prison, a 
pump-maker came to him with his difficulties because 
his pump would not lift water higher than thirty-two 
feet. The old philosopher thought it was because 
the atmosphere would not press the water up any 
higher; but the hand of persecution was upon him, 
and he was afraid to say the air had weight. Now, 
had he looked to the science of the Bible, he would 
have discovered that the ‘perfect’ man of Uz, moved 
by revelation, had proclaimed the fact thousands of 
years before. ‘ He maketh the weight for the wind.’ 
Job is very learned, and his speeches abound in 
scientific lore. The persecutors of the old astrono¬ 
mer also would have been wiser, and far more just, had 
they paid more attention to this wonderful book, for 
there they would have learned that 4 He stretcheth 
out the North over the empty place , and hangeth the 
earth upon nothing.’ 

“ Here is another proof that Job was familiar with 

7 


74 TRIUMPH OF BIBLE OVER SCRUTINY. 

the laws of gravitation, for he knew how the world 
was held in its place ; and as for the ‘ empty place’ 
in the sky, Sir John Herschel has been sounding the 
heavens with his powerful telescope, and gauging 
the stars, and where do you think he finds the most 
barren part—the empty places—-of the sky ? In the 
North, precisely where Job told Bildad, the Shuhite, 
the empty place was stretched out. It is there where 
comets most delight to roam, and hide themselves in 
emptiness. 

u I pass by the history of creation as it is written 
on the tablet of the rock and in the Book of Revela¬ 
tion, because the question has been discussed so much 
and so often, that you no doubt are familiar with the 
whole subject. In both, the order of creation is the 
same, first the plants to afford sustenance, and then 
the animals, the chief point of apparent difference 
being as to the duration of the period between the 
‘ evening and morning.’ ‘ A thousand years as one 
day,’ and the Mosaic account affords evidence itself 
that the term day, as there used, is not that which 
comprehends our twenty-four hours. It was a day 
that had its evening and morning before the sun was 
made. 

“ I will, however, before proceeding further, ask 
pardon for mentioning a rule of conduct which I 
have adopted, in order to make progress with these 
physical researches which have occupied so much of 
my time and many of my thoughts, and that rule is 
never to forget who is the Author of the great volume 


TRIUMPH OF BIBLE OVER SCRUTINY. 75 


which nature spreads out before us, and always to 
remember that the same Being is also the author of 
the book which Revelation holds up to us ; and though 
the two works are entirely different, their records are 
equally true, and when they bear upon the same 
point, as now and then they do, it is as impossible that 
they should contradict each other, as it is that either 
should contradict itself. If the two cannot be recon¬ 
ciled, the fault is ours, and is because, in our blind¬ 
ness and weakness, we have not been able to inter¬ 
pret aright either the one or the other, or both. 

“ Solomon, in a single verse, describes the circula¬ 
tion of the atmosphere as actual observation is now 
showing it to be. That it has its laws, and is as obe¬ 
dient to order as the heavenly host in their move¬ 
ment, we infer from the fact announced by him, and 
which contains the essence of volumes by other men, 
‘ All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not 
full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, 
thither they return again/ 

“ To investigate the laws which govern the winds 
and rule the sea, is one of the most profitable and 
beautiful occupations that a man, an improving, pro¬ 
gressive man, can have. Decked with stars as the 
sky is, the field of astronomy affords no subjects of 
contemplation more ennobling, more sublime, or more 
profitable, than those which we may find in the air 
and the sea. 

“ When we regard them from certain points of 
view, they present the appearance of wayward things, 


76 TRIUMPH OF BIBLE OVER SCRUTINY. 

obedient to no law, but fickle in their movements, 
and subject only to chance. 

“ Yet, when we go as truth-loving, knowledge-seek¬ 
ing explorers, and knock at their secret chambers, 
and devoutly ask what are the laws which govern 
them, we are taught, in terms the most impressive, 
that when the morning stars sang together, the waves 
also lifted up their voice, and the winds, too, joined 
in the almighty anthem. And, as discovery advances, 
we find the marks of order in the sea and in the air 
that is in tune with the music of the spheres, and the 
conviction is forced upon us that the laws of all are 
nothing else but perfect harmony. 

“ Yours respectfully, 

“ M. F. Maury, 

“ United States Navy ” 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 

The Scriptures were originally written upon rolls 
of parchment, similar, probably, to those which are 
to be seen in the holy-place of Jewish synagogues at 
the present day. These manuscripts were copied 
with the utmost care. Many versions of them were 
made from the original Hebrew and Greek into 
other tongues. The various manuscripts which have 
come down to the present day all agree essentially 
in their contents. This is admitted both by believers 
and unbelievers. 

By whom, and at what time, Christianity was first 
introduced into the British Isles, cannot now be as¬ 
certained with any degree of precision. It is cer¬ 
tain, however, that many manuscript copies of the 
Scriptures, or parts of Scripture, in the Saxon 
tongue, existed a i a very early date. One translation 
of the Psalms is ascribed to King Alfred. For 
several centuries after this, the general reading of 
the Bible was prohibited by the Papal See, whose 
supremacy was then felt and acknowledged. 

The first translations of the Bible into English 
were previous to the invention of printing.. They 
were the result of incalculable labor, and expense 
of time. Transcripts were obtained with great diffi¬ 
culty, and being rare, were purchased at a price 
7 * 77 


78 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 


which seems to us incredible. The monks who em¬ 
ployed their time, in lone seclusion, in executing 
these beautiful manuscript copies of the Word of 
God, knew not for what vast and glorious results 
they were laboring :—like the electric chain, uncon¬ 
scious itself of the tremendous power it is transmit¬ 
ting to others. 

The first person who conceived the idea of giving 
to his countrymen the whole Bible in the English 
tongue was the illustrious Reformer, John WicklifFe. 
With the assistance of the ripest scholars among his 
followers, he completed a translation of the Old and 
New Testaments in the year 1884. This version was 
not made from the original Hebrew and Greek Scrip¬ 
tures, of which no copies existed at that time in 
Western Europe, but from the Latin Vulgate, the 
celebrated translation made by Jerome in the fourth 
century of the Christian era. For a period of a hun¬ 
dred and fhirty years, Wickliffe’s translation was the 
only one in the English language. No book, before 
the invention of printing, ever had such facilities for 
wide circulation. It was at once put into the hands 
of the itinerant preachers, who, under the auspices 
of Wickliffe, had traversed every part of England, 
and were fully acquainted with the wants of the 
population. When first sent abroad, moreover, it 
enjoyed the favor of Ann of Bohemia, the accom¬ 
plished wife of Richard II., who was herself a de¬ 
cided student of the Scriptures. Nearly twenty 
years elapsed before its progress was materially 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 


79 


checked by persecution. The character of this 
version furnished, for all time, the type and pattern 
of the English Bible. Its homely and childlike 
phraseology became consecrated in the English mind 
as the appropriate medium of inspiration. The sub¬ 
sequent versions which have found favor with the 
common people, have been the offshoots of this parent 
stock. Whatever improvements they may have re¬ 
ceived, they are in all essential points but repro¬ 
ductions of that which was translated into English 
— but not printed — in the fourteenth century, by 
Wickliffe. 

The next attempt at English translation was the 
version of the New Test&nent by William Tindal , 
sometimes printed Tyndale. The day had begun to 
dawn. It was not in the power of man to roll back 
the “ living wheels” which the prophet saw. A child 
may put in motion the nicely-poised rocking stone, 
but the arm of & giant cannot stay it. The art of 
printing was invented. The Reformation had com¬ 
menced, and Europe was beginning to shake with 
the volcanic fires which were rumbling beneath her. 
Already had Luther begun to give his German Bible 
to his countrymen, when Tindal , who had been 
forced to leave his own country by persecution, was 
led to translate the New Testament into English from 
the original Greek, and publish it in Holland for the 
benefit of the English nation. In this undertaking 
he was assisted by the learned John Fryth, and a 
friar called William Roye, both of whom afterwards 


80 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 


suffered death as heretics. The work appeared in the 
year 1526, and makes the first printed edition of any 
part of the Bible in the English language. In the same 
year, Cardinal Wolsey and the bishops consulted to¬ 
gether on the subject of the translation, and pub¬ 
lished a prohibition against it in all their dioceses, 
charging it with false and heretical glosses, wickedly 
brought in to corrupt the Word of God. Still many 
copies continued to make their way into the country; 
whereupon, to enforce the prohibition, Tonstal, bishop 
of London, bought up all the copies he could find, 
and committed them to the flames at St. Paul’s Cross. 
This had a hateful appearance to the people, and 
only led them to look after the Scriptures more 
earnestly than before. Several other editions of this 
translation were published in Holland, before the 
year 1530, and found a ready sale. In that year a 
royal proclamation was issued for totally suppress¬ 
ing the translation of the Scriptures,* “ corrupted by 
William Tindal.” The king, it was said, would, at 
a suitable time, provide a fair and learned transla¬ 
tion for the use of the nation, if it should be con¬ 
sidered expedient. All this while Tindal had been 
going forward with, the work of translating the Old 
Testament, and this same year accordingly (1530) 
appeared his edition of the five books of Moses. He 
afterwards translated all the historical books, besides 
revising and correcting his translation of the New 
Testament. In 1531, through the influence of his 
enemies in England, he was seized and imprisoned 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 


81 


at Villefort, near Brussels, and after a confinement 
of years, he was condemned to death by the empe¬ 
ror’s decree, in an Assembly at Augsburgh, in con¬ 
sequence of which he was strangled, and had his 
body afterwards reduced to ashes. His dying prayer, 
repeated with much earnestness, was, “ Lord, open 
the king of England’s eyes.” 

In the year 1535, appeared the Bible of Miles 
Coverdale , the first printed edition of the entire 
Scriptures in the English language. This was dedi¬ 
cated to the king, Henry VIII., and seems to have 
been substantially Tindal’s translation, as far as he 
had gone, filled out by his friend Coverdale himself, 
with what was wanted to make up a version of the 
whole Bible. It was called, however, a “ special 
translation,” and did not agree altogether with Tin- 
dal’s, and besides, it omitted Tindal’s prefaces and 
notes, w T hich had been offensive to many. It was 
probably published at Zurich, in Switzerland, and on 
the last page were the words : — 

“ Prynted in the yeare of our Lorde , 1535, and 
fynished the fourth day of October.” 

After this, versions of the Scriptures were multi¬ 
plied. 

There was Taverner s Bible , which was little more 
than a revision of Tindal. In 1540, a reprint of 
Tindal’s whole Bible was published by Archbishop 
Cranmer. "In 1558, the Geneva Bible made its ap¬ 
pearance, which was the work of the English exiles 
who had taken refuge in Switzerland from the rel> 


82 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 


gious persecutions in their own country, and which 
was highly valued among the Puritans, chiefly, per¬ 
haps, on account of the brief annotations that went 
along with it, which came all of the Calvinistic 
school. 

In 1568, Archbishop Parker, by royal command, 
undertook to form, with the help of several learned 
men, chiefly bishops, a version of the “ Great Bible ,” 
which had been published, in 1589, for the use of the 
Church, so as to have a copy free from the popish 
charge of being a false translation. This was called, 
for distinction, the Bishops' Bible. 

The Bouay Bible was translated by several Eng¬ 
lish Catholics, who had once been connected with the 
University of Oxford, but who, on the accession of 
Elizabeth to the English throne, had fled to the Con¬ 
tinent, and found refuge in the Romish seminaries 
of Douay and Rheims. The New Testament, in this 
version, was published in 1582, and the Old Testa¬ 
ment in 1610. It was made from the Latin Vulgate, 
in preference to the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures. 
But as yet there was no common standard. To other 
times was reserved the emission of that version of 
the Sacred Text which we now possess, which gene¬ 
rally passes by the name of King James's Bible , dur¬ 
ing whose reign, and at whose instance, the trans¬ 
lation was undertaken, and to whom it is dedicated; 
and which, we believe, is destined to stand to the 
end of time, as one of the most splendid monuments 
of scholarship and success the world has ever seen. 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 


8S 


James came to the throne in 1603. As com¬ 
plaints abounded on the subject of religion, a con¬ 
ference was held at Hampton Court the following 
year, for the purpose of settling the order and peace 
of the Church. Here a number of objections were 
urged against the translations of the Bible then in 
use, and the result was a determination on the part 
of his majesty to have a new version made, such as 
might be worthy to be established as the uniform text 
of the nation. Fifty-four learned and pious men were 
accordingly appointed to perform the important ser¬ 
vice, who were to be divided into six separate classes, 
and to have the Bible distributed in parts according 
to this division, that every class might have its own 
parcel to translate at a particular place by itself. 
In every company, each single individual was re¬ 
quired first to translate the entire portion assigned 
to that company, then they were to compare these 
versions together, and, on consultation, unite in one 
text the common judgment of all, after which, the 
several companies were to communicate their parts 
each one to all the rest, that in the end the entire 
work might have the consent and approbation of the 
whole number of translators together. In addition 
to this, an order was issued by the king, making it 
incumbent on all the bishops in the land to inform 
of all such learned men within their several dioceses 
as having special skill in the Hebrew and Greek 
tongues, had taken pains in their private studies tc 
understand and elucidate difficult passages in the 


34 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 


Scriptures, and to charge them to send in their obser 
vations as they might see fit, for the use of the regu¬ 
lar translators; so as to bring, as it were, all the learn¬ 
ing of the kingdom, so far as it could be of avail in 
the case, to bear on the great and notable under¬ 
taking that was now to be commenced. 

Some delay occurred in entering upon the busi¬ 
ness, so that it was not fairly begun before the year 
160T, and before this time seven of the persons first 
nominated were either dead or had declined acting, 
so as to leave but forty-seven for carrying on the 
translation. Ten of these met at Westminster, and 
had the Pentateuch, with the historical books that 
follow from Joshua to the end of the second book of 
Kings, for them portion. Eight more, at Cambridge, 
had charge of the rest of the historical books, to¬ 
gether with Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Canticles, and 
Ecclesiastes. At Oxford, one company of seven 
had the Prophets assigned to them, and another com¬ 
pany of eight, at the same place, were intrusted with 
the four gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the 
Apocalypse. There was a second company also at 
Westminster, that had in charge the rest of the New 
Testament; and, finally, a second company at Cam¬ 
bridge, consisting of seven, to which was allotted the 
books of the Apocrypha — a part which it would 
have been better not to have associated in this way 
at all with a solemn translation of the true and pro¬ 
per Word of God. 

The translators received certain general instruc¬ 
tions from the king, to regulate them in their work. 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 


85 


They were required by these to go by the “ Bishops’ 
Bible,” as much as the original would allow, to re¬ 
tain proper names in their usual form; to keep the 
old ecclesiastical terms; out of different significations 
belonging to a word, and equally suitable to the con¬ 
text, to choose that most commonly used by the best 
ancient fathers; to abide by the standing division of 
chapters and verses; to use no marginal notes, un¬ 
less to explain particular Hebrew or Greek words; 
to employ references to parallel places, so far as 
might seem desirable. If any one company should 
differ from another, in reviewing its part of the trans¬ 
lation, about the sense of any passages, notice was 
to be returned of the disagreement and its reasons; 
and if this should not induce a change of views on 
the other side, the whole was to be referred for ulti¬ 
mate decision to a general meeting of the chief per¬ 
sons of each company, to be held at the end of the 
work. In cases of special obscurity, letters might 
be sent to any learned man in the kingdom, by 
authority, for his opinion. 

Nearly three years were occupied with the work— 
a period that seemed long to the impatience of many 
at the time, and was made the occasion of charging 
these good men with negligence and sloth; but not 
too great certainly for the solemn nature of the ser¬ 
vice itself, and the deeply interesting bearings it was 
destined to have on the history of the Church in 
coming years. Ten years of so many lives thus em¬ 
ployed had not been too much to expend for an 
object so vastly momentous as the formation of a 
8 


86 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 


version by which so many millions of people speak 
ing the English language were to be instructed in 
the will of God, to the end of time. The work be¬ 
came complete in the year 1610. 

The translations of the Bible, then, may be thus 
summarily stated :—It was translated by Wickliffe, 
in 1384; by Tindal, in 1530; by Coverdale, in 1535; 
by Cranmer, in 1539; at Geneva, in 1560; by the 
bishops, in 4 568; and by the celebrated authorized 
translators, as they are called, the most accomplished 
scholars and eminent divines of their day, in the 
year 1610.* 

The first Bible printed on the continent of Ame¬ 
rica was in native Indian—the New Testament in 
1661, and the Old in 1663, both by Bev. John 
Eliot. They were published in Cambridge, Mass. 
The second was in German, a quarto edition, pub¬ 
lished at Germantown, near Philadelphia, by Chris¬ 
topher Sower, in 1676. The first American edition 
of the Bible in‘English was printed by Kneeland 
and Green, at Boston, in 1772, in small quarto, 700 
or 800 copies. The next edition was by Robert 
Aitken, of Philadelphia, in 1781-2. He sent a me¬ 
morial to Congress, praying for their patronage. 
His memorial was referred to a committee, who ob¬ 
tained the opinion of the chaplains of Congress as to 
its general typographical accuracy, and thereupon a 
resolution was passed (Sep. 12,1782) recommending 

* We have drawn this chapter from several reliable sources, 
to which we here make a general acknowledgment of indebted¬ 
ness. 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. * S'* 

this edition of the Bible to the people of the United 
States. 

It is admitted on all hands that the received 
English version of the Bible far excels every other 
translation. “If accuracy, fidelity, and the strict¬ 
est attention to the text,” says Dr. . Geddes, “be 
supposed to constitute the qualities of an excellent 
version, this, of all versions, must, in general, be ac¬ 
counted the most excellent. Every sentence, every 
word, every syllable, every letter, and every point, seem 
to have been weighed with the nicest exactitude, and 
expressed either in the text or in the margin, with the 
greatest precision. “There is.no book,” says the 
illustrious Selden, “so translated as the Bible for 
the purpose. If I translate a French book into 
English, I turn it into English phrase, not French 
English. II fait froid ; I say ’tis cold , not makes 
cold. But the Bible is rather translated into Eng¬ 
lish words than into English phrase. The Hebra¬ 
isms are kept, and the phrase of that language is 
kept. “The style of our present version,” says 
Bishop Middleton, “is incomparably superior to any¬ 
thing which might be expected from the finical and 
perverted taste of our own age. It is simple, it is 
harmonious, it is energetic, and, which is of no small 
importance, use has made it familiar, and time has 
rendered it sacred.” Bishop Lowth himself, whose 
literary taste is known to have been of the most pure 
and classical order, has not hesitated to pronounce 
it “ the best standard of our language.” Bishop 


88 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 


Horsley represents it to have been the means of en¬ 
riching and adorning the English tongue, by its close 
adherence to the Hebrew idiom. And Dr. Clarke, 
author of the Commentary on the Bible, says:— 
“ Those who have compared most of the European 
translations with the original, have not scrupled to 
say that the English translation of the Bible made 
under the direction of King James the First is the 
most accurate and faithful of the whole. Nor is this 
its only praise: the translators have seized the very 
spirit and soul of the original, and expressed this 
almost everywhere with pathos and energy. They 
have, also, not only made a standard translation, but 
they have made their translation the standard of our 
language.” 

While, therefore, we would most earnestly en 
courage every effort, on the part of all who have it in 
their power to prosecute the study of the Scriptures 
in their original tongues,—while we feel that the 
Church has a right to expect this of those who are 
set for the defence of the gospel, we are very sure 
that the result of all such investigations will be to 
heighten confidence in the present version, and fill 
the heart with unfeigned gratitude to God, for that 
blessed book which we now enjoy, and which, for 
nearly two centuries and a half, has been pouring 
its light and consolation wherever the English tongue 
is spoken. Let science toil, and diligence labor in 
original investigation—for the Hebrew Scriptures 
are a mine of solid and inexhaustible gold, where 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 


80 


giants may dig for ages—let literature hold up her 
torch, and cast all possible light upon the sacred 
text, but we must and ever shall deprecate &nv wan¬ 
ton attacks upon our received version—any gratuit¬ 
ous attempts to supersede it by a new and different 
translation. It is the Bible which our godly fathers 
have read, and over which they have wept and prayed. 
It is the good old English Bible, with which are 
associated all our earliest recollections of religion. 
As such let it go down unchanged to the latest pos¬ 
terity. • Let us give it in charge to coming genera¬ 
tions, and bid them welcome to all the blessings it 
has conveyed to us. Let it be our fervent prayer, 
that the light of the resurrection morning ma^y shine 
on the very book which we how read,—.that we may 
then behold again the familiar face of our own Bible, 
the very same which we read in our childhood. 

ANCIENT DIVISIONS AND ORDER OF THE BIBLE. 

After the return of the Jews from the Babylonish 
captivity, Ezra collected as many copies as he could 
of the sacred writings, and out of them all prepared 
a correct edition, arranging the several books in their 
proper order. These books he divided into three 
parts: I. The Law. II. The Prophets. III. The 
Hagiographa, i. e., The Holy Writings. 

I. The law contains, 1. Genesis; 2. Exodus; 
3. Leviticus; 4. Numbers; 5. Deuteronomy. 

II. The writings of the Prophets are :—1. Joshua; 
2. Judges, with Buth; 3. Samuel; 4. Kings; 5. Isa- 

8 * 


90 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 


iah; 6. Jeremiah, with his Lamentations; 7. Eze¬ 
kiel ; 8. Daniel; 9. The twelve minor prophets; 
10. Job; 11. Ezra; 12. Nehemiah; 13. Esther. 

III. The Hagiographa consist of:—1. The Psalms; 
2. The Proverbs; 3. Ecclesiastes; 4. The Song of 
Solomon. 

This division was made for the sake of reducing 
the number of the sacred books to the number of the 
letters in their alphabet, which amount to twenty- 
two. Afterwards the Jews reckoned twenty-four 
books in their canon of Scripture, in disposing of 
which the law stood as in the former division, and 
the prophets were distributed into former and lat¬ 
ter : the former prophets are Joshua, Judges, Sa¬ 
muel, and Kings; the latter prophets are Isaiah, 
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets; 
and the Hagiographa consist of the Psalms, the Pro¬ 
verbs, Job, the Song of Solomon, Ruth, the Lamen¬ 
tations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, the Chro¬ 
nicles. Under the name of Ezra they comprehend 
Nehemiah. This order has not always been ob¬ 
served, but the variations from it are of no moment. 
The five books of the law are divided into fifty-four 
sections. This division many of the Jews hold to 
have been appointed by Moses himself, but others, 
with more probability, ascribe it to Ezra. The de¬ 
sign of this division was, that one of these sections 
might be read in their synagogues every Sabbath- 
day : the number was fifty-four, because, in their in¬ 
tercalated years, a month being then added, there 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 


91 


were fifty-four Sabbaths : in other years they re¬ 
duced them to fifty-two, by twice joining together 
two short sections. 

MODERN DIVISIONS OF THE BIBLE. 

The division of the Scriptures into chapters, as we 
at present have them, is of modern date. Some 
attribute it to Stephen Langton, archbishop of Can¬ 
terbury, in the reigns of John and Henry III., but 
the true author of the invention was Hugo de Sancto 
Caro, commonly called Hugo Cardinalis, because he 
was the first Dominican that ever was raised to the 
degree of cardinal. This Hugo flourished about 
A. D. 1240 : he wrote a comment on the Scriptures, 
and projected the first concordance, which is that of 
the vulgar Latin Bible. The aim of this work being 
for the more easy finding out of any word or passage 
in the Scriptures, he found it necessary to divide the 
book into sections, and the sections into subdivisions, 
for till that time the vulgar Latin Bibles were with¬ 
out any division at all. These sections are the chap¬ 
ters into which the Bible has ever since been divided, 
but the subdivision of the chapters was not then into 
verses, as it is now. Hugo’s method of subdividing 
them was by the letters, A, B, C, D, E, E, G, placed 
in the margin, at an equal distance from each other^ 
according to the length of the chapters. 

The subdivision of the chapters into verses, as they 
now stand in our Bibles, had its origin from a fa¬ 
mous Jewish rabbi, named Mordecai Nathan, about 
1445. This rabbi, in imitation of Hugo Cardinalis, 


92 


THE ENGLISH BIBLE. 


drew up a concordance to the Hebrew Bible, for the 
use of the Jews. But though he followed Hugo in 
his division of the books into chapters, he refined upon 
his inventions as to the subdivision, and contrived 
that by verses. This being found to be a much more 
convenient method, it has been ever since followed. 
And thus, as the Jews borrowed the division of the 
books of the Holy Scriptures into chapters from the 
Christians, in like manner the Christians borrowed 
that of the chapters into verses from the Jews. The 
present order of the several books is almost the same 
(the Apocrypha excepted) as that made by the coun¬ 
cil of Trent. . 

The division into verses, though very convenient, 
is not to govern the sense, and there are several in 
stances in which the sense is injured, if not destroyed, 
by an improper division. Very often the chapter 
breaks off in the midst of a narrative, and if the 
reader stops because the chapter ends, he loses the 
connection, as for example, Matt. x. 42. Some¬ 
times the break is altogether in the w T rong place, and 
separates two sentences which must be taken to¬ 
gether in order to be understood, as, for example, 
1 Cor. xii. 31. xiii. 1. Again, the verses often di¬ 
vide a sentence into two different paragraphs, when 
there ought scarcely to be a comma between them, 
as in Luke iii. 21, 22. And sometimes a fragment 
of a subject is separated from its proper place, and 
put where it is without any connection, (Coloss. iii. 
25. iv. 1.) The punctuation of the Bible was pro¬ 
bably introduced as lately as the ninth century. 


TESTIMONY FOR THE BIBLE. 


A society of gentlemen in England, most of 
whom had enjoyed a liberal education, and were 
persons of polished manners, but had unhappily im¬ 
bibed infidel principles, used to assemble at each 
other’s houses for the purpose of ridiculing the 
Scriptures, and hardening one another in their un¬ 
belief. At last, they unanimously formed a resolu¬ 
tion solemnly to burn the Bible, and so to be trou¬ 
bled no more with a book which was so hostile to 
their principles and disquieting to their consciences. 
The day fixed upon arrived; a large fire was pre¬ 
pared, a Bible was laid on the table, and a flowing 
bowl ready to drink its dirge. For the execution 
of their plans they fixed upon a young gentleman 
of high birth, brilliant vivacity, and elegance of 
manners. He undertook the task ; and, after a few 
enlivening glasses, amidst the applauses of his jovial 
compeers, he approached the table, took up the 
Bible, and was walking leisurely forward to push it 
into the fire, but, happening to give it a look, all 
at once he was seized with a trembling, paleness 
overspread his countenance, and he seemed con¬ 
vulsed. He returned to the table, and, laying down 

93 


94 TESTIMONY F,OR THE BIBLE. 

the Bible, said, with a strong asseveration, “We will 
not burn that hook till we get a better .” Soon after 
this, the same gay, lively young gentleman died, 
and on his death-bed was led to true repentance, 
deriving unshaken hopes of forgiveness and of fu¬ 
ture blessedness from that book he was once going 
to burn. He found it, indeed, the best book, not 
only for a living, but a dying hour. 

Colonel Allen, a celebrated infidel of this coun¬ 
try, was one day summoned from his library to the 
chamber of a sick daughter, whom her pious mother 
had instructed in the principles of Christianity, and 
who, by an unexpected turn in her disease, was 
about to breathe her last. As soon as he appeared 
at her bed-side, she said to him, “Father, I am 
about to die; shall I believe in the principles which 
you have recommended, or shall I believe in what 
my mother has taught me ?” He became extremely 
agitated; his chin quivered, his whole frame shook, 
and, after waiting a few moments, he replied, “ Be 
lieve what your mother has taught you.” 

Lord Byron, in a letter to Mrs. Sheppard, said, 
“ Indisputably, the firm believers in the Gospel have 
a great advantage over all others, for this simple 
reason — that, if true, they will have their reward 
hereafter; and if there be no hereafter, they can 
be but with the infidel in his eternal sleep, having 
had the assistance of an exalted hope through life, 
without subsequent disappointment, since (at the 
worse, for them), 4 out of nothing, nothing can 


TESTIMONY FOR THE BIBLE. 


95 


arise,’ — not even sorrow.” The following lines, 
also, are said to have been found in his Bible:— 

“ Within this awful volume lies 
The mystery of mysteries. 

Oh ! happiest they of human race, 

To whom our God has given grace 
To hear, to read, to fear, to pray, 

To lift the latch, and force the way, 

But better had they ne’er been born 
Who read to doubt, or read to scorn.” 

In Las Casas’s Journal, this record is made con¬ 
cerning Bonaparte : “ The emperor ended the con¬ 
versation on the subject of religion by desiring my 
son to bring him the New Testament, and taking it 
from the beginning, he read as far as the conclusion 
of the speech of Jesus on the mountain. He ex¬ 
pressed himself struck with the highest admiration 
at the purity, the sublimity, the beauty of the mo¬ 
rality it contains, and we all expressed the same 
feeling.” 

Lord Bolingbroke declared, that “the Gospel 
is, in all cases, one continued lesson cf the strictest 
morality, of justice, of benevolence, and of uni¬ 
versal charity.” 

The testimony of Rousseau was as follows: — 
“ This Divine Book, the only one which is indispen¬ 
sable to the Christian, need only to be read with 
reflection to inspire love for its author, and the most 
ardent desire to obey its precepts. Never did vir¬ 
tue speak so sweet a language; never was the most 


96 


TESTIMONY FOR THE BIBLE. 


profound wisdom expressed with so much energy 
and simplicity. No one can arise from its perusal 
without feeling himself better than he was before.” 
He also said, speaking of the Bible, and of the cha¬ 
racter of Christ, “ Is it possible that a book at once 
so simple and sublime should be merely the work 
of man ? Is it possible that the sacred personage 
whose history it contains should himself be a mere 
man ? Do we find that he assumed the tone of an 
enthusiast, or ambitious sectary ? What sweetness, 
what purity in his manners! What an affecting 
gracefulness in his delivery ! What sublimity in 
his maxims! What profound wisdom in his dis¬ 
courses! What presence of mind, what sublimity, 
what truth in his replies ! How great the command 
over his passions ! Where is the man, where is the 
philosopher, who could so live, and so die, without 
weakness and without ostentation? When Plato 
described his imaginary good man, loaded with all 
the shame of guilt, yet meriting the highest rewards 
of virtue, he described exactly the character of Je¬ 
sus Christ: the resemblance was so striking that all 
the Fathers perceived it.” Yet this was the strange 
and unhappy man, who, through the wickedness and 
pride of his heart, declared, “ I cannot believe the 
Gospel.” 

It is related of a deist, who had publicly labored 
to disprove Christianity, and to bring the Scriptures 
into contempt as a forgery, that he was afterwards 
found instructing his child from the New Testament, 


TESTIMONY FOR THE BIBLE. 


97 


and that, when taxed with the flagrant inconsistency, 
his only reply was, that it was necessary to teach 
the child - morality, and that nowhere was there to 
be found such morality as in the Bible. In refer¬ 
ring to this case, a distinguished divine has uttered 
the following just and truthful sentiments: “We 
thank the deist for the confession. Whatever our 
scorn of a man who could be guilty of so foul a dis¬ 
honesty, seeking to sweep from the earth a volume 
to which, all the while, himself recurred for the 
principles of education, we thank him for his testi- 
timony, that the morality of Scripture is a morality 
nowhere else to be found, so that, if there were no 
Bible, there would be comparatively no source of 
instruction in duties and virtues, whose neglect and 
decline would dislocate the happiness of human so¬ 
ciety. The deist was right. Deny or disprove the 
Divine origin of Scripture, and, nevertheless, you 
must keep the volume as a kind of text-book of mo¬ 
rality, if, indeed, you would not wish the banishment 
from our homes of all that is lovely and sacred, and 
the breaking up, through the lawlessness of ungo¬ 
verned passions, of the quiet and the beauty which 
are yet round our families.” 

Sir William Jones’s opinion of the Bible was 
written on the last leaf of one belonging to him, in 
these strong terms: “I have regularly and atten¬ 
tively read these Holy Scriptures, and am of opinion 
that this volume, independently of its Divine origin, 
contains more sublimity and beauty, more pure mo- 
9 


98 TESTIMONY FOR THE BIBLE. 

rality, more important history, and finer strains of 
poetry and elegance, than can be collected from 
all other books, in whatever age or language they 
may have been composed.” 

The Hon. Robert Boyle is another instance. 
His whole life and fortune were spent in illustrating 
the beauties of the two grand volumes of Creation 
and Revelation. He has said everything in favor 
of the Bible that language admits of. He called it 
“ that matchless book,” and has written a whole 
volume to illustrate its beauties. 

The celebrated John Locke has said: “ The mo 
rality of the Gospel doth so far excel that of all 
other books, that to give a man full knowledge of 
true morality, I would send him to no other book 
than the New Testament.” Being asked a little 
before his dissolution, “ What was the shortest and 
surest way for a young gentleman to attain true 
knowledge of the Christian religion in the full and 
just extent of it ?” he made this memorable reply, 
“ Let him study the Holy Scriptures, especially the 
New Testament. Therein are contained the words 
of eternal life. It has God for its author, salvation 
for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, 
for its matter.” During the last fifteen years of 
his life, Mr. Locke applied himself especially to the 
study of the Holy Scriptures, and he employed the 
last years of his existence in hardly any thing 
else. 

Addison says, “After perusing the book of 


TESTIMONY FOR THE BIBLE. 


9S 


Psalms, let a judge of the beauties of poetry read a 
literal translation of Horace or Pindar, and he will 
find in these tw r o last such an absurdity and confu¬ 
sion of style, with such a comparative poverty of 
imagination, as will make him sensible of the vast 
superiority of Scripture style.” 

The learned Salmasius, when on his death-bed, 
uttered this language: “ 0 ! I have lost a world of 
time ! If one year more were to be added to my 
life, it should be spent in reading David’s Psalms, 
and Paul’s Epistles.” 

Lord Rochester: A comparison of the 53d 
chapter of Isaiah with the account given in the four 
Evangelists of the sufferings of Christ, became the 
instrument of converting this witty and wicked earl. 
He told Bishop Burnet that, as he heard this pro¬ 
phecy read, and compared it with the record of our 
Saviour’s passion, he felt an inward force upon him, 
which did so enlighten his mind and convince him, 
that he could resist it no longer, for the words had 
an authority which did shoot like rays or beams in 
his mind, so that he was not only convinced by the 
reasoning he had about it, which satisfied his under¬ 
standing, but by a power which did so effectually 
constrain him, that he did ever after as firmly be¬ 
lieve in his Saviour as if he had seen him in the 
clouds. 

Amidst the great variety of books which Sir Isaac 
Newton had constantly before him, that which he 
studied with the greatest application, was the Bible 


100 


TESTIMONY FOR THE BIBLE. 


The famous Selden, one of the most eminent phi* 
losophers and most learned men of his time, towards 
the end of his days declared to Archbishop Usher, 
“ that notwithstanding he had been so laborious in 
his inquiries, and curious in his collections, and had 
possessed himself of a treasure of books and manu¬ 
scripts upon all subjects, yet he could rest his soul 
on none save the Scriptures: and, above all, that pas¬ 
sage gave the most satisfaction, in Titus, ii. 11-14, 
“ The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath 
appeared to all men, teaching us, that denying un¬ 
godliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, 
righteously, and godly, in this present world, look¬ 
ing for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing 
of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who 
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from 
all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, 
zealous of good works.” 

It is recorded of Edward VI., of England, that, 
upon a certain occasion, a paper wdiich was called 
for in the Council Chamber happened to be out of 
reach: the person concerned to produce it, took the 
Bible that lay by, and, standing upon it, reached 
down the paper. The king, observing what was 
done, ran himself to the place, and, taking the Bible 
in his hands, kissed it, and laid it up again. This 
circumstance, though trifling in itself, showed his 
majesty’s great reverence for, and affection to, that 
best of all books. 


TESTIMONY FOR THE BIBLE. 


101 


“ Come, sit near me, let me lean on you,” said 
Wilberforce to a friend a few minutes before his 
death. Afterwards, putting his arms around that 
friend, he said, “ God bless you, my dear.” He be¬ 
came agitated, somewhat, and then ceased speaking. 
Presently, however, he said, “ I must leave you, my 
fond friend, we shall walk no further through this 
world together, but I hope we shall meet in heaven. 
Let us talk of heaven. Do not weep for me, dear 

F-, do not weep, for I am very happy, but 

think of me, and let the thought make you press for¬ 
ward. I never knew happiness till I found Christ as 
a Saviour. Read the Bible ! Let no religious book 
take its place. Through all my perplexities and 
distresses, I never read any other book, and I never 
knew the want of any other. It has been my hourly 
study; and all my knowledge of the doctrines, and 
all my acquaintance with the experience and reali¬ 
ties of religion, have been derived from the Bible 
only. I think religious people do not read the Bible 
enough. Books about religion may be useful enough, 
but they will not do instead of the simple truth of 
the Bible.” 

Sir Walter Scott, in his final sickness, said to 
Lockhart, his son-in-law, “Bring me a book.” 
“What book?” said Lockhart. “Can you ask?” 
said the expiring genius. “ There is but one, — the 
Bible .” “I chose the fourteenth chapter of St. 

John’s gospel,” says Mr. Lockhart; “he listened 
9* 



102 


TESTIMONY FOR THE BIBLE. 


with mild devotion, and said, when I had done, 4 Well, 
this is a great comfort. I have followed you dis¬ 
tinctly, and I feel as if I were to be myself again.’ 
But this hope was not realized. During his days of 
decline, he was sometimes heard murmuring over 
snatches from Isaiah, and the book of Job, and occa¬ 
sionally a Psalm, in the old Scottish version.” 

In a letter of Dr. Chalmers to an American friend, 
acknowledging the receipt of a highly valued relic 
of Edwards, he alludes to the declaration of a coun 
tryman of ours, on his death-bed. Being inquired 
of respecting his frame and feelings, he replied, 
“ that there is mercy with God in Christ Jesus our 
Lord.” That person was Fisher Ames. Mr. 
Ames lamented the disuse of the Bible in our schools, 
and thus wrote on this subject: “ Should not the 
Bible regain the place it once held as a school book ? 
Its morals are pure, its examples captivating and 
noble. The reverence for the Sacred Book that is 
thus early impressed, lasts long, and probably, if 
not impressed in infancy, never takes firm hold of 
the mind. One consideration more is important. 
In no book is there so good English, so pure, and so 
elegant, and by teaching all the same book, they 
will speak alike, and the Bible will justly remain 
the standard of language, as well as of faith. A 
barbarous provincial jargon will be banished, and 
taste, uncorrupted by pompous Johnsonian affecta¬ 
tion, will be restored.” 


TESTIMONY FOR THE BIBLE. 


108 


To a writer in the “ Christian Palladium,” who, 
in 1847, made a visit to the Hon. John Quincy 
Adams, that distinguished statesman, and venerable 
ex-President, said, u My practice, since I was thirty 
years of age, has been to read in the Bible the first 
thing I do every morning. This practice I have fol¬ 
lowed, with but few interruptions, for fifty years.” 

Similar testimony in the same direction was borne 
by him in a letter to his son, in 1811, in which he 
says: “I have for many years made it a practice to 
read through the Bible once every year. My custom 
is to read four or five chapters every morning, im¬ 
mediately after rising from my bed. It employs 
about an hour of my time, and seems to me the 
most suitable manner of beginning the day. In 
what light soever we regard the Bible, whether with 
reference to revelation, to history, or to morality, it 
is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of know¬ 
ledge and virtue.” 


THE INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE ON ITS 
ENEMIES AND FRIENDS. 


That is a safe criterion, or rule of judgment, which 
the Saviour has recognised and endorsed in the 
words, — “ The tree is known by its fruit.” No 
system of morals, no articles of faith, are entitled to 
respect, or worthy of reception, which operate bale- 
fully upon the heart and the life. They may be 
plausible and popular, but they are hollow and false, 
and ought to be cast out and trodden under foot of 
men. u The tree is known by its fruit.” Let any 
theory fail to elevate, adorn, dignify, and purify 
man, prompting him to a life of holiness and hope, 
and to act nobly and purely his part in the various 
relations he is called to sustain, and especially let it 
prove itself unable to support him in death, the pe¬ 
riod in his history in which he needs most support 
and consolation, and there is evidence, amounting 
to demonstration, that such theory or system should 
be rejected with scorn and horror. In both these 
regards, the Bible enables its friends triumphantly 
to exclaim to their common foes, — “ Their rock is 
not as our rock, even our enemies themselves being 
the judges.” 


104 


THE INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE. 105 

Contrast, says an excellent author, in point of 
mere benevolence, the lives and deportment of such 
an infidel as Rousseau and such a Christian a3 
Doddridge; the one all pride, selfishness, fury, ca¬ 
price, rage, gross sensuality, casting about fire¬ 
brands and death, professing no rule of morals but 
his feelings, abusing the finest powers to the dis¬ 
semination, not merely of objections against Chris¬ 
tianity, but of the most licentious and profligate 
principles ; Doddridge, all purity, mildness, meek¬ 
ness, and love, ardent in his good will to man, the 
friend and counsellor of the sorrowful, regular, calm, 
consistent, dispensing peace and truth by his labors 
and his writings, living not for himself, but for the 
common good, to which he sacrificed his health and 
even life. 

Or, contrast such a man as Volney with Swartze. 
They both visit distant lands; they are active and 
indefatigable in their pursuits; they acquire cele 
brity, and communicate respectively a certain im¬ 
pulse to their widened circles; but the one, jaundiced 
by infidelity, the sport of passion and caprice, lost 
to all argument and right feeling, comes home to 
diffuse the poison of unbelief, to be a misery to him 
self, the plague and disturber of his country, the 
dark calumniator of the Christian faith. The other 
remains far from his native land, to preach the 
peaceful doctrine on the shores of India; he be¬ 
comes the friend and brother of those whom he had 
never seen, and only heard of as fellow creatures; 


106 THE INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE. 

he diffuses blessings for half a century; he insures 
the admiration of the heathen prince near whom he 
resides; he becomes the mediator between contend¬ 
ing tribes and nations ; he establishes a reputation 
for purity, integrity, disinterestedness, meekness, 
which compel all around to respect and love him; 
he forms churches, he instructs children, he dis¬ 
perses the seeds of charity and truth; he is the 
model of all the virtues he enjoins. 

The Dying Sceptic. 

“ Lo, there, in yonder fancy-haunted room, 

What muttered curses tremble through the gloom, 

When pale, and shivering, and bedewed with fear, 

The dying sceptic felt his hour draw near; 

From his parched tongue no meek hosanna fell, 

No bright hope kindled at his faint farewell. 

As the last throes of death convulsed his cheek, 

He gnashed, and scowled, and raised a hideous shriek. 
Rounded his eyes into a ghastly glare. 

Locked his white lips, and all was mute despair.” 

Voltaire, in bis last illness, sent for Dr. Tronchin, 
who, when he came, found him in the greatest ago¬ 
nies, exclaiming with the utmost horror, “ I am 
abandoned by God and man.” He then said, “ Oh! 
doctor, I will give you half of what I am worth if 
you will give me six months’ life !” The doctor an¬ 
swered, “ Sir, you cannot live six weeks !” Voltaire 
replied, “ Then I shall go to hell.” D’Alembert, 
Diderot, and Marmontel visited him to support his 
last moments, but were only witnesses to their mu* 


THE INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE. 107 

tual ignominy, as well as his own. Often would he 
curse them, and exclaim, “ Retire! It is you that 
have brought me to my present state ! Begone ! I 
could have done without you all, hut you could not 
exist without me. And what a wretched glory you 
have procured me !” To appease the distraction of 
his conscience, he wrote to the Abbe Gaultier, en¬ 
treating him to visit him, and in a few days thereafter 
he penned the following declaration: 

“ I, the undersigned, declare, that for these four 
days past, having been afflicted with a vomiting of 
blood, at the age of eighty-four, and not having 
been able to drag myself to the church, the Rev., 
the Rector of St. Sulpice, having been pleased tc 
add to his good works that of sending to me the Abbe 
Gaultier, a priest, I confessed to him; and if it 
please God to dispose of me, I die in the holy 
Catholic Church, in which I was born, hoping that 
the Divine Mercy will deign to pardon all my faults. 
If ever I have scandalized the Church, I ask pardon 
of God and the Church. March the 2d, 1778. 

“ Signed Voltaire, in the presence of the Abbe 
Mignot, my nephew, and the Marquis de Villevielle, 
my friend.” 

Alternately he blasphemed and supplicated God, 
and in plaintive accents he would frequently cry out, 
“ 0. Christ! 0, Jesus Christ!” as if he saw the sen¬ 
tence with which he had subscribed his epistles in 
fiery letters before him. The Marshal de Richelieu, 
his companion in infidelity, flew from his bedside, 


108 THE INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE. 

declaring it to be a sight too terrible to be sustained. 
Dr. Tronchin, thunderstruck, retired, declaring that 
the death of the impious man was terrible indeed; 
and the furies of Orestes could give but a faint idea 
of those of the dying infidel. And the nurse who 
attended him, being, many years afterwards, re¬ 
quested to wait on a sick Protestant gentleman, re¬ 
fused, till she was assured he was not a philosopher, 
declaring that, if he was, she would on no account 
incur the danger of witnessing such a scene as she 
had been compelled to do at the death of Voltaire. 

Mirabeau died calling out, — “Give me more 
laudanum, that I may not think of eternity, and what 
is to come.” 

The last moments of Paine were awful and dis¬ 
tressing in the extreme. When his infidel com¬ 
panions said to him, “ You have lived like a man — 
we hope you will die like onehe observed to one 
near him, “ You see, sir, what miserable comforters 
I have.” He declared, on one occasion, “that if 
ever the devil had an agent upon earth, he had been 
one.” “There was,” says Dr. Manley, his phy¬ 
sician, “ something remarkable in his conduct about 
this period, (which comprised about two weeks imme¬ 
diately preceding his death,) particularly when we 
reflect that Thomas Paine was the author of 4 The 
Age of Reason.’ He would call out, during his 
paroxysms of distress, without intermission, 4 0 Lord, 
help me! God, help me! Jesus Christ, help me l 
0 Lord, help me !’—repeating the same expressions, 


THE INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE. 109 

without any, even the least variation, in a tone 
of voice that would alarm the house. This conduct 
induced me to think that he had abandoned his 
former opinions; and I was more inclined to that 
belief when I understood from his nurse, who is a 
very serious, and, I believe, pious woman, that he 
would inquire, when he saw her engaged with a book, 
what she was reading; being answered, and at the 
same time asked whether she would read aloud, he 
assented, and would give particular attention.” But 
when his physician repeatedly pressed him to confess 
his guilt and error, and asked him, “ Do you believe, 
or, let me qualify the question, do you wish to be¬ 
lieve that Jesus Christ is the Son of God ?”—after a 
pause of some minutes, he sullenly answered, “ I have 
no wish to believe on that subject.” Dr. Manley re¬ 
marks, “For my own part I believe, that had not 
Thomas Paine been such a distinguished infidel, he 
would have left less equivocal evidences of a change 
of opinion.” The woman whom he had seduced from 
her husband and children in France, lamented to a 
friend, who visited Paine in his departing moments—• 
“ For this man I have given up my family and friends, 
my property and my religion; judge, then, of my 
distress, when he tells me that the principles he has 
taught will not bear me out.” 

When the atheist Hobbes drew near to death, 
he declared, “lam about to take a leap in the dark 
and the last sensible words that he uttered were, 
“ I shall be glad to find a hole to creep out of th6 
10 


110 THE INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE. 

world at.” Emerson, towards the close of his life, 
crawled about the floor, at one time praying and at 
another swearing. Newport’s last words were,—- 
“ Oh, the insufferable pangs of hell and damnation/* 

The Dying Christian. 

“ Go, child of darkness ! see a Christian die! 

No horror pales his lips, or dims his eye, 

No fiend-shaped phantoms of destruction start 
The hope religion pillows on his heart, 

When with a faltering hand he waves adieu 
To all who love so well, and weep so true: 

Meek, as an infant to the mother’s breast 
Turns, fondly longing for its wonted rest, 

He pants, for where congenial spirits stray, 

Turns to his God, and sighs his soul away.” 

When Paul stood on the shore of eternity, his lan¬ 
guage was, “ I am now ready to be offered, and the 
time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a 
good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept 
the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown 
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, 
shall give me at that day.” When John Knox was 
near his last breath, a friend who had prayed with 
him, having asked whether he had heard what was 
said, “ Would to God,” w r as his reply, “ that you had 
all heard those words with such an ear and heart as 
I!” then looking heavenward, he said, “ Lord Jesus, 
receive my spirit,” and without a struggle, entered 
into the joy of his Lord. Addison’s reply to a young 
nobleman, who requested him to impart his last in- 


THE INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE. Ill 


junctions, was, “ I have sent for you, that you may 
see how a Christian can die.” It was in allusion to 
the last moments of this truly great man that Dr. 
Young wrote:— 

“ He taught us how to live, and, 0! too high 
A price for knowledge! taught us how to die!” 

Halyburton, when dying, thus addressed those 
around him—“ Here is a demonstration of the re- 
alitj' and power of faith and godliness. I, a poor, 
weak and timorous man, once as much afraid of 
death as any one ; I, who was many years under the 
terrors of death, come, in the mercy of God, and by 
the power of his grace, composedly, and with joy, to 
look death in the face. I have seen it in its pale¬ 
ness, and all the circumstances of horror that attend 
it. I dare look it in the face in its most ghastly 
shape, and hope to have in a little time the victory 
over it. Glory, glory to him ! 0 what of God do I 
see ! I have never seen anything like it! The begin¬ 
ning and end of religion are wonderfully sweet! I 
long for his salvation, I bless his name ! I have found 
him! I am taken up in blessing him ! I am dying: 
rejoicing in the Lord! 0, I could not have believed 
that I should bear, and bear cheerfully, as I have 
done, this rod, which hath lain on me so long. This 
is a miracle. Pain without pain ! you see a man 
dying a monument of the glorious power of astonish¬ 
ing grace!” Some time after, he said:—“When I 
shall be so weakened as not to be able to speak, I 


112 THE INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE. 

will give you, if I can, a sign of triumph when I am 
near to glory.” This he did, for when one said, “I 
hope you are encouraging yourself in the Lord,” not 
being able to speak, he lifted up his hands, clapped 
them, and quickly after expired. 

“I am full of confidence,” said Dr. Doddridge, 
“there is a hope set before me: I have fled, I still 
fly for refuge to that hope. In Him I trust. In 
Him I have strong consolation, and shall assuredly 
be accepted in the Beloved of my soul.” 

“Do not think,” declared Mr. Hervey, “that I 
am afraid to die! I assure you I am not. I know 
what my Saviour hath done for me, and I want to 
be gone. But I wonder and lament to think of the 
love of Christ in doing so much for me, and how little 
I have done for Him.” A little before his death, he 
said:—“The great conflict is over! Now all is 
done!” 

“It will not be long,” exclaimed Mr. Toplady, 
“ before God takes me; for no mortal man can live 
(bursting into tears) after the glories which God has 
manifested to my soul.” 

To some young men whom Dr. Payson invited to 
visit him, he observed:—“ Death comes every night 
and stands by my bed-side in the form of terrible 
convulsions, every one of which threatens to sepa¬ 
rate the soul from the body. These continue to 
grow worse and worse, until every bone is almost 
dissolved with pain, leaving me with the certainty 
that I shall have it all to endure again the next 


THE INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE. 113 

night. Yet, while my body is thus tortured, the soul 
is perfectly, perfectly happy and peaceful—more 
happy than I can possibly express to you. I lie 
here, and feel these convulsions extending higher and 
higher, without the least uneasiness; but my soul is 
filled with joy unspeakable. I seem to revive in a 
flood of glory which God pours down upon me. And 
I know, I know that my happiness is but begun, I 
cannot doubt that it will last for ever. And now, 
is all this a delusion? Is it a delusion which can fill 
the soul to overflowing with joy in such circum¬ 
stances ? If so, it is surely a delusion better than 
any reality; but no, it is not a delusion, I feel that 
it is not. I do not merely know that I shall enjoy 
all this, I enjoy it now .” 

Thus is it true, that 

“Death has no terrors for the Christian’s soul, 

His sting’s extracted, and his mighty dart 
Was blunted by its task on Calvary.” 


10 * 


4 


'v ■ ■ - • '' • ' - ' ■ > - 

• 1 - y , ■ . 


"> /• 







( 114 ) 


































NAMES OF THE BIBLE. 


The sacred volume is known by various and sig¬ 
nificant titles. It is called The Bible, or the book, 
from the Greek word, (3i(3\os, book, a name given 
originally (like liber in Latin) to the inner bark of 
the linden, or teil-tree, and afterwards to the bark 
of the papyrus, the materials of which early books 
were sometimes made. So prevailing has been the 
sense of Holy Scripture being the Book, the worthi¬ 
est and best, that one which explained all other 
books, standing up in their midst — like Joseph’s 
kingly sheaf, to which all the other sheaves did obei¬ 
sance— that this name of “bible” or “book” has 
come to be restricted to it alone : just as “ scripture 1 * 
means no more than ‘‘ writingbut this inspired 
writing has been felt to be so far above all other 
writings, that this name also it has challenged as 
exclusively its own. 

It is called the Old and New Testament; the word 
Testament signifying a will or covenant, and being 
given because the book contains the substance of 
God’s covenant with the Jews under the legal dis¬ 
pensation, and the substance of the Christian cove¬ 
nant, which was sealed by the blood of Christ. 

It is called the Oracles of God, because it contains 
the answers which God has given from his holy 

115 


116 


NAMES OF THE BIBLE. 


place, to the inquiries of his people, or to indicate 
the place where, under the old dispensation, the will 
of God was revealed. 

It is sometimes called the canon of Scripture, from 
a Greek word which signified, primarily, a measuring 
rod , a rule, and which being first applied figuratively 
to the inspired Scriptures, as being the measure or 
model of religious conduct and belief, afterwards 
came to signify merely a list , or catalogue. 

“The Law” and “the Prophets” are each em¬ 
ployed, and sometimes unitedly by a common figure 
of speech, to designate the whole of the Old Testa¬ 
ment. 

The word holy is often connected with other titles, 
to express the pure quality, and the holy tendency 
of the inspired volume. 

Of all the titles which the Bible has received, the 
“Word of God” is perhaps the most impressive and 
complete. It is sufficient to justify the faith of the 
feeblest Christian, and it gathers up all that the most 
earnest search can unfold. We may say more at 
large what this title involves, but more than this w r e 
cannot say. It teaches us to regard the Bible as the 
utterance of Divine wisdom and love. 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


The first five books of the Old Testament, which 
are G-enesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deu¬ 
teronomy, are sometimes called the Pentateuch, from 
pente, five, and teuchos, an instrument or volume. 
They were written by Moses more than 3000 years 
ago, and are the most ancient writings in the world. 

Genesis. 

The Hebrews call it, and the other books of Moses, 
from the first word or words, but the Greeks call it 
Genesis, or generation, because it relates the history 
of the creation, and about twenty-four generations 
descended from Adam. It extends to 2369 years; 
informs us of God’s making the world; of man’s 
happy state, and fall; of the propagation of man¬ 
kind in the lines of Cain, the murderer of Abel, and 
of Seth; of the rise of religion, and the general 
apostasy from it; of the flood, the salvation of 
Noah’s family by an ark, and their repeopling of the 
■world ; of the origin of nations, and the building of 
Babel; of the life, and death, and posterity of Na- 
hor, Lot, Abraham, Isaac, Esau, Jacob, and Jo¬ 
seph. No history but this affords any probable ac- 

117 


118 


THE BOOKS OE THE BIBLE. 


count of ancient things, and this has concurrent tes¬ 
timony of almost every authentic historian we have, 
as of Abydenus, Berosus, Magasthenes, Polyhister, 
Nicolaus, &c. Whether Moses wrote this hook while 
in Midian, or rather when he led the Hebrews through 
the desert, is not agreed. 

In reading Genesis, we may discover intimations 
of Christ, not only in the promises, but in the cha¬ 
racters described, many of whom were types or 
figures of the Saviour. See for example, Gen. ii., 
7, &c., compared with 1 Cor. xv. 45-49, &c.; Gen. 
xiv. 18-20, compared with Heb. vii. 


REFERENCES IN GENESIS. 


i. 1; Heb. xi. 3. 
iii. 4; 2 Cor. xi. 3. 

iii. 6; 1 Tim. ii. 14. 

iv. 4; Heb. xi. 4. 

iv. 8: 1 John iii. 12; 

Juds 11. 

r. 24; Heb. xi. 5. 
vi. 12; 1 Pet. iii. 20. 
vi. 14; Heb. xi.7; 2 Pet. 
ii. 5. 

Til 4; Matt. xxiv. 37, 38. 


xii. 1; Heb. xi. 8. 

xiv. 18; Heb. vii. 1. 

xv. 6; Rom. iv. 3; James 
ii. 23. 

xvi. 15; Gal. iv. 22. 

xviii. 10; Heb. xi. 11. 
xviii. 12; 1 Pet. iii. 6. 
xix. 24; Luke xvii. 28,29. 
xix. 25; 2 Pet. ii. G; 

Jude, 7. 

xix. 26; Luke xvii. 32. 


xxi. 1, 3; Gal. iv. 28. 

xxii. 1,10; Heb. xi. 17 
James ii. 21. 

xxii. 18 ; Luke i. 55. 
xxv. 22; Rom. ix. 10. 
xxv. 33; Heb. xii. 16. 
xxvii. 27; Heb. xi. 20. 
xlviii. 15; Heb. xi. 21. 
xlix. 10; John i. 49; 

Luke i. 32. 

1. 24; Heb.xi.22. 


Exodus. 

This is the second book of Moses. The name is 
derived from ex , out, and odos, a way, and it is thus 
applied as denoting the departure of the Israelites 
out of Egypt. The book is a narrative of the trans¬ 
actions of about a hundred and forty-five years, from 
the death of Joseph, A. M. 2369, to the erection of 




THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 119 

the tabernacle in 2514, particularly of the tyranny 
of Pharaoh, the bondage and marvellous increase of 
the Israelites in Egypt, the Lord’s sending Moses 
and Aaron to deliver them ; the ten plagues inflicted 
on the Egyptians for refusing to let them go, and 
the destruction of their king and army in the Red 
Sea; the Israelites’ departure from Egypt; safe pas¬ 
sage through the Red Sea; their wonderful suste¬ 
nance by sweetened water, or water from a dry rock, 
and with bread from heaven ; God’s publishing and 
giving them his law at Sinai, and their idolatrous 
making and worship of the golden calf; the direc¬ 
tions concerning the tabernacle, and consecration of 
priests; the oblations for and actual erection of the 
tabernacle. 

This book is cited as the work of Moses by David, 
Daniel, and others of the sacred writers, and it has 
been remarked, that twenty-five distinct passages are 
quoted from it by Christ and his apostles in express 
words, and nineteen in substance. 

Exodus contains the covenant of the moral law, 
distinct from the covenant made with Abraham : 
Gal. iii. 17. Christ was prefigured by the rock that 
followed Israel, and the manna which fed them, and 
he was the angel who conducted them. Moses was 
a type of Christ as a lawgiver, mediator, deliverer, 
and intercessor; as the head of the Church, as the 
guide and Saviour of Israel. The deliverance of 
Israel from Egypt, and their journey through the 
wilderness, are lively figures of the deliverance of 


120 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


Christians from the bondage of sin, and of their 
journey through this world’s wilderness to the land 
of heavenly rest. 


REFERENCES IN EXODUS. 


ii. 2; Heb. xi. 23. 

ii. 11; Heb. xi. 24; Acts 

vii. 24. 

iii. 2; Acts vii. 30. 
xii. 7; Ileb. xi. 28. 


xiv. 22 ; 1 Cor. x. 2 ; Ileb. 
xi. 2 ». 

xvi. 15; John vi. 31, 49; 
1 Cor. x. 3. 

xvii. 6; 1 Cor. x. 4. 


xix. 6; 1 Pet. ii. 9. 
xix. 12 ; Heb. xii. 18. 
xxiv. 8; Heb. xi. IS. 
xxvi. 35; Heb. xi. 2. 
xxxii. 6; 1 Cor. x. 7. 


Leviticus. 

This third book of Moses is so called because it 
contains principally the laws and regulations rela¬ 
ting to the Levites, priests, and sacrifices. The Le- 
vites were the descendants of Levi, the son of Jacob. 
The book contains twenty-seven chapters, divided 
into four principal sections :—(1.) The laws concern¬ 
ing sacrifices. (2.) The consecration of the high- 
priests. (3.) Purification, &c. (4.) Sacred festi¬ 

vals. It contains, also, many of the laws by which 
the civil department of the government was to 
be administered, besides many remarkable prophe¬ 
cies. The Epistle to the Hebrews is the best 
commentary on this Book. The things here de¬ 
scribed are shadows of better things to come, even 
of Christ and redemption through Him. The burnt- 
offering shows us the full, perfect, and sufficient 
sacrifice of Christ once offered, whose blood cleanses 
from all sin. The sin-offering , part of which was 




THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE 


121 


burnt without the camp, represents Christ, our sin- 
offering, dying for us without the gate of Jerusalem. 
Christ is the sum and the substance of all. The 
washings and cleansings point out to us the purify¬ 
ing influences of the Holy Spirit. The oil is an 
emblem of his unction. The particular directions 
respecting worship, show us the vast importance of 
reverence and attention in all our worship. Boyle 
observes :—“ The ceremonial law, with all its mystic 
rites, like the manger to the shepherds, holds forth, 
wrapped in his swaddling clothes, the infant Jesus. ,, 

REFERENCES IN LEVITICUS. 


xii. 3. 46; John vi. 22; 

Luke ii. 21-4. 
xiv. 4; Matt. viii. 4. 
xvi. 14; Ileb. ix. 13. 


xvi. 17; Luke i. 10. 
xviii. 5; Rom. x. 

Gal. iii. 12. 
xix. 15; James ii. 1. 


xix. 17; Matt, xviii. 15; 
4 } 5Luke xvii. 3. 

xix. 18; Gal. v. 14. 

xx. 10; John viii. 5. 
xxvi. 12; 2 Cor. vi. 16. 


Numbers. 


This book, the fourth of the Pentateuch, receives 
its denomination from the numbering of the families 
of Israel by Moses and Aaron, who mustered the 
tribes, and marshalled the army of the Hebrews in 
their passage through the wilderness. A great pfirt 
of the book is historical, relating several remarkable 
events which happened in that journey. It compre¬ 
hends the history of about 38 years. The brazen 
serpent hung upon a pole, (chap. xxi. v. 9.) was a 
striking type of the Lord Jesus Christ; and the ro¬ 
ll 




122 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


covery of the Israelites, of the recovery of the 
perishing sinner through faith in him. See John, 
in. 14, 15. 


REFERENCES IN NUMBERS. 


viii. 16: Luke ii. 23. 
lx. 18; 1 Cor. x. 1. 

xi. 4; 1 Cor. x. 6. 

xii. 7; Hcb. iii. 2. 

xiv. 27; 1 Cor. x. 10; 
Ueb. iii. 17. 


xvi. 1; Jude 11. 

xix. 3; Heb.xiii.il. 

xx. 8; 1 Cor. x. 4 

xxi. 5, 6 ; 1 Cor. x. 9. 

xxi. 9 ; John iii. 14. 

xxii. 23; 1 Pet. ii. 16. 


xxii. 39 : 2 Pet. ii. 15; 
Jude ii. 

xxiv. 14; Rev. ii. 14. 

xxv. 9; 1 Cor. x. 8. 

xxvi. 65; 1 Cor. x. v. 
xxviii. 9; Matt. xii. v. 


Deuteronomy. 

From deuteros , second, and nomos , law, is the last 
of the five books of Moses. As its name imports, it 
contains a repetition of the civil and moral law, 
which was a second time delivered by Moses, with 
some additions and explanations, as well to impress 
it more forcibly upon the Israelites in general, as in 
particular for the benefit of those who, being born 
in the wilderness, were not present at the first pro¬ 
mulgation of the law. It contains, also, a recapitu¬ 
lation of the several events which had befallen the 
Israelites since their departure from Egypt, with 
severe reproaches for their past misconduct, and 
earnest exhortations to future obedience. In chap, 
xviii. v. 18, there is a most plain prophecy of Christ: 
See Acts iii. 22. Moses directed that this book 
should be read every seven years, and appointed the 
time and manner of doing it. (Deut. xxxi. 9-13.) 
It was written, probably, A. M. 2552. It finishes 




THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


123 


with an account of the death of Moses, which is 
supposed to have been added by his successor, 
Joshua. 


REFERENCES IN DEUTERONOMY. 


vi. 13; Matt. iv. 10. 
vi. 16; Matt. iv. 7. 

Tiii. 3; Matt. iv. 4. 
x. 17; Acts x. 34; Rom. 
xii. 11; Coloss. iii. 25. 


x. 17; Ephes. vi. 9. 
xxv ii. 6; Heb. x. 28. 
xviii. 1; 1 Cor. ix. 13. 
xviii. 18; John i. 45; 
Acts iii. 22; Acts 
vii. 37. 


xxiv. 1; Matt. v. 31; 
Matt. xix. 7; Mark 
x. 4. 

xxv. 4 ; 1 Cor. ix. 9. 
xxvii. 26; Gal. iii. 10. 
xxx. 12-14; Rom. x. &-9. 


The next twelve hooks , from Joshua to Job, are 
called historical hooks. 


Joshua. 

The Book of Joshua is understood to have been 
written by himself, with the exception of a few verses 
in the end, giving an account of his death, and it is 
afterwards quoted under his name. These last verses 
were added by one of his successors, probably by 
Eleazer, Phinehas, or Samuel. The book continues 
the sacred history from the period of the death of 
Moses to that of the death of Joshua and of Eleazer, 
a space of about 30 years. It contains an account 
of the conquest and division of the land of Canaan, 
the renewal of the covenant with the Israelites, and 
the death of Joshua. There are two passages in it 
which show that it was written by a person contem¬ 
porary with the events it records. Josh. v. 1-vi. 25. 
Joshua was a distinguished type of Christ, conduct- 





124 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


ing his people through every difficulty to the heav 
enly Canaan. 

'Though num’rous hosts of mighty foes, 

Though earth and hell their way oppose, 

He safely leads their souls along; 

His loving-kindness, 0! how strong! 

REFERENCES IN JOSHUA. 

i. 5; Heb. xiii. 5. lii. 1 ; James ii. 25. jvi. 20; Ilcb. xi. 30, 31. 

!i; Heb. xi. 31. I iii. 14; Acts vii. 45. Ixiv. 1, 2 ; Acts xiii. 19. 

Judges. 

The authorship of the Book of Judges is not cer¬ 
tainly known. It appears to be the work of one 
author, who lived after the time of the judges, and 
he is generally thought to be Samuel. To him Jew¬ 
ish tradition also ascribes it. It derives its title from 
the fact that it gives us the history of the Israelites 
under the administration of fifteen judges, viz: from 
eighteen or twenty years after the death of Joshua, 
or about, B. c. 1564, to the time of Saul, or about 
B. c. 1110; a period of more than four hundred and 
fifty years. It also exhibits the sinfulness of man 
in the conduct of the* Israelites, and how certainly 
punishment follows sin, as well as records the good¬ 
ness of God in forgiving them. 

The judges , already referred to, were not a regu¬ 
lar succession of governors, but occasional deliverers, 
raised up by God, to rescue Israel from oppression 
and to administer justice. Without assuming the 
state of royal authority, they acted for the time as 


i 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


125 


vicegerents of Jehovah, the invisible king. Their 
power seems not to have been unlike that of the suf- 
fetes of Carthage and Tyre, or of the archons of 
Athens. The government of the people may he de¬ 
scribed as a republican confederacy, the elders and 
princes having authority in their respective tribes. 

REFERENCES IN JUDGES. 

ii. 16; Acts xiii. 20. | Generally, Heb. xi. 32, 40. 

Ruth. 

The Book of Ruth is so called from the name of 
the person, a native of Moab, whose history it con¬ 
tains. It may be considered as a supplement to the 
hook of Judges, to which it was joined in the Hebrew 
Canon, and the latter part of which it greatly re¬ 
sembles, being a detached story belonging to the 
same period. It has only four chapters; and though 
there are at its close some highly important genea¬ 
logical facts, its prominent design is to show the 
watchful care of God’s Providence over such as fear 
and trust him. The book was certainly written after 
the birth of David, and probably by the prophet 
Samuel, though some have attributed it to Hezekiah, 
and others to Ezra. 

REFERENCES IN RUTH, 
iv. 18; Matt. 1, 4; and Luke iii. 31, 33. 

I. and II. Samuel. 

The first and second Books of Samuel bear the 
name of that prophet, because he wrote twenty- 
11 * 


126 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


four chapters of the first book. Nathan anl Gad 
are supposed to have completed them. (1 Chron. 
xxix. 29.) They constitute an important part of the 
annals of the Jewish nation. The first hook em¬ 
braces a period of eighty years, from the birth of 
Samuel to the death of Saul, and relates to Eli and 
Samuel, the last two of the judges, and Saul and 
David, the first two of their kings. The second hook 
embraces a period of about forty years, and contains 
the national records during the long reign of David, 
as well as the events of his personal history. Samuel 
began the order of the prophets, which was never 
discontinued till the death of Zechariah and Malachi. 
(Acts 3: 24.) 

REFERENCES IN I. SAMUEL, 
xxi. 6; Matt. xii. 3,4; Mark ii. 25 ; I xvi. 12; Acts vii. 46. 

Luke vi. 4. I Generally Acts xiii. 21, 23. 

REFERENCES IN II. SAMUEL, 
xii. 24; Matt. i. 6. 

I. Kings. 

1st Kings contains the history of 126 years; be¬ 
gins with Solomon’s appointment to the throne; 
describes David’s death, the reign of Solomon, the 
building of the temple, Solomon’s sin; his death, the 
division of the twelve tribes into the kingdoms of 
Israel and Judah, (from this time the people of the 
ten tribes are called Israel , and those of the king¬ 
dom of Judah are called Jews)) the account of Elijah, 
the prophet, and of several kings. The reign of 
Solomon is a figure of the peaceful reign of the 


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127 


Saviour. The temple itself, where alone sacrifice was 
to be offered, and of which so much is afterwards 
said, is often used by the sacred writers as an image 
of the beauty and perfection of the Church of God. 
When the Israelites became idolaters they never 
prospered. 

REFERENCES IN I. KINGS. 

ii. 10; Acts ii. 29; Actslx. 1; Matt. xii. 42; Lukelxvii. 1; Luke iv. 25. 

xiii. 36. xi. 31. xviii. 42; James v. 17. 

II. Kings. 

2d Kings contains the history of 344 years. The 
histories of Israel and Judah are here carried on to¬ 
gether ; Elijah is taken up to heaven, and Elisha suc¬ 
ceeds him; the reigns of many kings in Israel and 
Judah are described ; the ten tribes of Israel are car¬ 
ried captives to Assyria; and, in about 160 years 
afterwards, Judah is carried captive to Babylon. 
See the evil and consequences of sin. In Elijah, 
and afterwards in Elisha, we see how much good one 
resolute man of God may do. The seed of David is 
continued on the throne. See the faithfulness of 
God. 

REFERENCES IN II. KINGS, 
iv. 29; Luke x. 4. | v. 14; Luke i* 27 

I. and II. Chronicles. 

1st and 2d Chronicles (or Annals ,) are in some 
sense supplemental to the two books of Kings. These 
books were called by the Jews, “ Words of Days,” 
that is, “ Diaries,” or ‘‘Journals.” They are called 


128 THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 

in the LXX, Paraleipomena, which signifies, “ thing-3 
omitted.” In them are found many particulars 
which are not extant elsewhere. The authorship of 
them is generally ascribed to Ezra. The first book 
traces the rise and propagation of the children of 
Israel, from Adam, together with a circumstantial 
account of the reign and transactions of David; the 
second continues the narrative, relates the progress 
and dissolution of the kingdom of Judea, (apart from 
Israel,) to the year of the return of the people 
from Babylon. Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles 
should be read and compared together, as they re¬ 
late substantially the same histories, though with 
different degrees of particularity, and with different 
means of information. 

REFERENCES IN I. CHRONICLES, 
xxiii. 13; Ileb. v. 4. | xxiv. 10 ; Luke i. 5. 

Ezra. 

Ezra begins with the repetition of the last two 
verses of the second Book of Chronicles, and carries 
the Jewish history through a period of seventy-nine 
years, commencing from the edict of Cyrus. It is to 
be observed, that between the dedication of the tem¬ 
ple and the departure of Ezra, that is, between the 
sixth and seventh chapters of this book, there was an 
interval of about fifty-eight years, during which 
nothing is here related concerning the Jews, except 
that, contrary to God’s command, they intermarried 
with Gentiles. This book is written in Chaldee from 
the eighth verse of the fourth chapter to the twenty- 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


12 $ 


seventh verse of the seventh chapter. It is probable 
that the sacred historian used the Chaldean language 
in this part of his work, because it contains chiefly 
letters and decrees written in that language, the 
original words of which he might think it right to 
record; and indeed the people, who were recently re¬ 
turned from the Babylonian captivity, were at least 
as familiar with the Chaldee as they were with the 
Hebrew tongue. Ezra, the author of the book, was 
of the sacerdotal family, being a direct descendant 
from Aaron, and succeeded Zerubbabel in the govern¬ 
ment of Judea. 


Nehemiah. 

The Book of Nehemiah may be regarded as a 
continuation of, or supplement to, the Book of Ezra, 
and in some Bibles it is called the second book of 
Ezra, though it is unquestionably the work of Nehe¬ 
miah. 

This book contains an account of the motives and 
designs of Nehemiah in wishing to restore Jerusalem, 
the place of his fathers’ sepulchres; of the commis¬ 
sion he received; his associates in the work; their 
various successes and difficulties; the introduction 
of a better order of things, both in the religious and 
civil departments of the government, and a census 
or register of the people. The Old Testament his¬ 
tory closes with this book, B. c. 420. After the 
death of Nehemiah, Judea became subject to the 
government of Syria. 


130 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


Esther. 

The Book of Esther is so designated because it 
contains the history of Esther, the Jewish captive, 
who, by her remarkable accomplishments, gained the 
affection of king Ahasuerus, and by marriage with 
him was raised to the throne of Persia. It relates 
to the origin and ceremonies of the feast of Purim, 
instituted in commemoration of the great deliverance 
which she, by her interest, procured for the Jews, 
whose general destruction had been concerted by the 
offended pride of Haman. Its authorship has been 
ascribed to Ezra, to Mordecai, or to the distinguished 
persons who lived at that time, and are known by 
the title of the great Synagogue. 


The five following hooks are more simply religious 
than most of the preceding. They are called poeti¬ 
cal hooks , because they are chiefly written in verse in 
the original tongue. 

Job. 

This book takes its name from the venerable 
patriarch whose history it records. Its antiquity 
and the brevity of its style make it confessedly 
difficult of interpretation. But these difficulties 
seldom refer to topics of religious importance. 

As Job is mentioned in Scripture in connection 
with other known saints, (Ezek. xiv. 14; James v. 11), 
it may be safely concluded that he was a real person, 



THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


131 


and that the narrative is no fiction. This conclu¬ 
sion is sustained by the details given of persons and 
places, and by other internal evidence. Uz, the 
country which he inhabited, was probably in the 
northeast of Arabia Deserta. 

The age in which Job lived is a question that has 
created much discussion. The most probable opinion 
fixes it as earlier than Abraham. The hook may be 
read, therefore, between the 11th and 12th chapters 
of Genesis, as a supplement to the concise record of 
the early condition of our race, given by Moses. 

Respecting the author of the book, a difference of 
opinion prevails. Some ascribe it to Job, others to 
Elihu, and others to Moses. Whoever was its author, 
its canonical authority is proved by its place in the 
Jewish Scriptures, and the recognition of the whole 
collection by our Lord and his Apostles. 

REFERENCES IN JOB. 

i. 21; 1 Tim. vi. 7. I v. 13; 1 Cor. iii. 19. I xxxiv. 19; Acts x. 34. 

ii. 10; James y. 11. | y. 17; Heb. xii. 5. | 

Psalms. 

The Book of Psalms is entitled in the Hebrew, 
the Book of Hymns , or Praises, because the greater 
part of them are effusions of grateful praise to God, 
while the rest are the outpourings of penitential 
grief in regular measures. In the Gospels it is va¬ 
riously called “ The Book of Psalms,” “ The Prophet,” 


132 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


or “ David,” from the name of its principal author. 
Among the other authors reckoned by the Jews, are 
Moses, Solomon, Asaph', Heman, Ethan, Jeduthun, 
and the three sons of Korah. The whole was pro¬ 
bably arranged in its present form by Ezra. 

They are sometimes called The Psalter , from the 
Psaltery, a musical instrument used to accompany 
them when sung. 

The authority and inspiration of this book have 
always been acknowledged by both Jews and Chris¬ 
tians. It is quoted in the New' Testament, or clearly 
referred to, upwards of seventy times. 

In a literary point of view, the Psalms have been 
greatly and justly admired, and men of distinction 
have vied with each other in extolling their excel¬ 
lencies. Athanasius styles them “an epitome of 
the whole Scriptures;” Basil, a compendium of all 
theologyLuther terms them “ a little Bible,” and 
“ the summary of the Old Testament;” and Me- 
lanchthon called them “ the most elegant writing 
in the w r hole world.” “Not in their divine argu¬ 
ments alone,” says Milton, “ but in the very critical 
art of composition, they may be easily made to ap¬ 
pear over all the kinds of lyric poesy incomparable.” 
“In lyric flow and fire,” says a more modern au¬ 
thority, “ in crushing force and majesty . . . the 
poetry of the ancient Scriptures is the most superb 
that ever burnt within the breast of man.” 

The chief excellence and attraction of the Psalms 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


133 


are to be found in tbeir varied and profound devo¬ 
tional character. To the mind inquisitively pious, 
and ardent in the pursuit of heavenly knowledge, 
these seraphic songs present a path of discovery con¬ 
tinually opening before them, refulgent with the 
footsteps of the Messiah, and resounding with the 
promises of the Gospel. 

Psalms of Prayer . 

For pardon of sin, 6, 25, 38, 51, 130. Penitential, 6, 32, 
38, 51, 102, 130, 143. When prevented attending public 
worship, 42, 43, 63, 84. When dejected under afflictions, 13, 
22, 69, 77, 88, 143. Asking help of God, 7, 17, 26, 35. Ex¬ 
pressing trust in God in afflictions, 3, 16, 27, 31, 54, 56, 57, 
61, 62, 71, 86. Under affliction or persecution, 44, 60, 74, 79, 

80, 83, 89, 94, 102, 123, 137. In trouble, 4, 5,11, 28, 41, 55, 
59, 64, 79, 109, 120, 140, 141, 142. Intercession, 20, 67,122, 
132, 144. 

Psalms of Thanksgiving for Mercies . 

To particular persons, 9, 18, 22, 30, 43, 40, 75, 103, 108, 
116, 118, 138, 144. To the Israelites, 46, 48, 65, 66, 68, 76, 

81, 85, 98, 105, 124, 126, 129, 135, 136, 149. 

Psalms of Praise and Adoration , displaying God's 
Attributes. 

His goodness and mercy, and care of good men, 23, 34, 36, 
91, 100, 103, 107, 117, 121, 145, 146. His power, majesty, 
glory, and other attributes, 8, 19, 24, 29, 33, 47, 50, 65, 66, 
76, 77, 93, 95, 96, 97, 99, 104, 111, 113, 114, 115, 134, 139, 
147, 148, 150. 

12 


134 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


Instructive Psalms . 

The character of good and bad men, their happiness, and 
misery, 1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 24, 25, 32, 34, 36, 
37, 50, 52, 53, 58, 73, 75, 84, 91, 92, 94, 112, 119, 121, 125, 
127,128, 133. The excellence of God’s law, 19, 119. Vanity 
of human life, 39, 49, 90. Advice to magistrates, 82, 101. 
Humility, 131. Prophetical Psalms, 2, 16, 22, 40, 45, 68, 72, 
87, 210, 118. Historical Psalms, 78, 105, 106. 


REFERENCES IN THE PSALMS. 

|cix. 8; Acts, i. 20. 


ii. 1; Acts, iv. 25, 26. 
ii. 7; Acts, xiii. 13. 

Heb. i. 5. 

Heb. v. 5. 
viii. 4: Heb. ii. 6. 
xvi. 10; Acts, xiii. 35. 
xviii. 49; Rom. xv. 9. 
xix. 4; Rom. x. 18. 
xxii; Matt, xxvii. 

Mark, xv. 

■xxxi, 5 ; Luke, xxiii. 46. 


xl. 6 ; Heb. x. 5. 
xli. 9 ; John, xiii. 18. 
xliv. 22; Rom. viii. 36. 
xlv. 6; Heb. i. 8. 
lxix. 22, 23; Rom. xi. 9. 
10 . 

lxix. 25 ; Acts, i. 20. 
lxxviii. 2; Matt. xiii. 34. 
xci 11; Matt. iv. 6, 7. 
xcv; Heb. iii. and iv. 


cx. 1; Matt. xxii. 44. 

Luke, xx. 42. 
cxvii. 1; I’cm. 15,11. 
cxviii. 22; Matt. xxi. 42. 
Acts, iv. 11. 
Eph. ii. 20. 

1 Pet. ii. 4, 7. 
cxxxii. 5; Acts, ii. 30. 

Acts, vii. 46. 


The Book op Proverbs. 

The Book of Proverbs is universally attributed 
to Solomon, although their arrangement in the pre¬ 
sent form was undoubtedly the work of another 
hand. As to its canonical authority, Michaelis well 
observes, “ that no book of the Old Testament is so 
well ratified by the evidence of quotation.” Euse¬ 
bius mentions the whole consent of the ancients, 
considering it to be “ Wisdom fraught with every 
kind of virtue.” Bishop Hall draws out mainly 




THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


135 


from it a complete system of Divine arts. Mr. 
Scott remarks, that “We shall perceive the meaning 
and utility of the Proverbs, in proportion to our ex¬ 
perience in true religion, our acquaintance with our 
own hearts, and with human nature, and the extent 
and accuracy of our observation on the character 
and affairs of men.” It has been recorded of Mary 
Jane Graham, “ that she was delighted, in the course 
of her study of the Book of Proverbs, to have Christ 
so much and so frequently before her mind;” “a 
recollection,” says her biographer, of “great mo¬ 
ment for the spiritual discernment of the Divine 
wisdom treasured up in this storehouse of practical 
instruction.” 

The Book may be divided into three parts, — the 
first extending from the beginning to the close of 
the ninth chapter, and being chiefly confined to the 
conduct of early life; the second commencing at the 
opening of the ninth chapter, and being evidently 
designed for the use of persons advanced from the 
state of youth to that of manhood; and the third 
part comprising the last seven chapters. 

The scope of this book is to instruct men in the 
deepest mysteries of true wisdom and understanding, 
the height and perfection of which are the true 
knowledge of the Divine will, and the sincere fear 
’ of the Lord. 

REFERENCES IN PROVERBS. 


iii. 11,12; Ileb. xiL 5, 6. 
iii. 24; James, iv. 6. 

1 Pet. v. 5. 
x. 12; James, v. 20. 


xi. 31; 1 Pet. iv. 17,18. 
xvii. 27 ; James, i. 19. 
xx, 9 ; 1 John, i. 8. 
xxiv. 23; James, ii. 1. 


xxv. 6, 7: Luke, xiv. 8,10. 
xxv. 21, 22; Horn. xii. 20. 
xxvii. 1; James, iv. 13,14 




136 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


Ecclesiastes. 

Ecclesiastes is the twenty-first in the order of 
the hooks of the Old Testament. The name by 
which the book is known is a Greek word, signify¬ 
ing a preacher, or one who harangues a public con¬ 
gregation. It is generally thought to he the pro¬ 
duction of Solomon’s repentance toward the latter 
end of his life. It proposes the sentiments of the 
Sadducees and Epicureans in their full force; proves 
conclusively, by a philosophical induction from the 
experience of human life, the vanity of ail earthly 
things apart from the possession of the Divine 
favor and the prospects of immortality; the little 
benefit of men’s restless and busy cares; and the 
unsatisfying nature of all their knowledge. In read¬ 
ing this book, care should be taken not to deduce 
opinions from detached sentiments, but from the 
general scope and combined force of the whole. 

REFERENCE, 
vii. 20; Rom. iii. 23. 

V 

The Song of Solomon. 

The Song of Solomon was regarded by the an¬ 
cient Jews, without exception, as a sacred hook. 
Josephus inserts it in his catalogue of sacred hooks, 
and it is cited as of Divine authority from the ear¬ 
liest period of the Christian Church. The royal 
author appears, in the typical spirit of his time, to 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


137 


have designed to render a ceremonial appointment 
descriptive of a spiritual relation ; and this song is 
accordingly considered, by judicious writers, to be a 
mystical allegory of that sort which induces a more 
sublime sense on historical truths, and which, by 
the description of human events, shadows out divine 
circumstances. Much care and judgment are neces¬ 
sary so to use this part of Divine truth as not to 
abuse it. 

Similar figures are used in Matt. ix. 15; xxii. 2; 
xxv. 1-11; John, iii. 29 ; 2 Cor. xi. 2; Ephes. v. 
23, 27; Rev. xix. 7, 9; xxi. 2, 9; xxii. 17. 


REFERENCES IN THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 


i. 4; John, vi. 44. 

iv. 7 ; Eph. v. 27. 

v. 2: Rev. iii. 20. 


vii. 1; Is. Iii. 7. viii. 11; Matt. xxi. 33.42. 

vii. 1; Eph. vi. 15. viii. 14; Rev. xxii. 20. 

viii J 11; Is. v. 1-7. 


PROPHETICAL BOOKS. 

The sixteen following books are 'prophetical. They 
have received this name because they consist chiefly 
of predictions of future events, although many pas¬ 
sages, which relate to other subjects — such as the 
nature and attributes of God, the religious, and moral 
duties of man, reproofs and exhortations—are found 
interspersed with their predictions. Isaiah, Jere¬ 
miah, Ezekiel, and Daniel are called the greater, and 
the other twelve the lesser prophets. The language 
12 * 





138 


THE BOOKS OE THE BIBLE. 


of all of them is full of figures, chiefly borrowed from 
nature. The sun , moon , and stars are often used to 
represent kings, queens, and men in authority, moun¬ 
tains and hills, kingdoms and cities, marriage , the 
covenant of God, adultery , departure from God to 
idols. Difficulties in understanding the prophecies 
arise from our ignorance of history and Scripture, 
or from the prophecies being yet unfulfilled. We 
shall present a short sketch of these hooks, together 
with their authors, in their generally received chro¬ 
nological order. 


Jonah. 

Jonah, the son of Amittai, was a native of Gathhe- 
pher, m Zebulun or Galilee. He succeeded Elisha as 
the messenger of God to the ten tribes. He probably 
lived in the reign of Jehoahaz, when Hazael was ful¬ 
filling the predictions of Elisha, 2 Kings viii. 12; x. 
32. He foretold the enlarged territory and brief pros¬ 
perity of Israel under Jeroboam the second, in whose 
reign the prophet himself probably lived. But very 
little is known of his personal history, except what is 
written in the book which bears his name, and of which 
he is generally supposed to have been the author. His 
deliverance from the fish, in whose body he remained 
for three days and three nights, is a well known type 
of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The 
book may be safely placed, perhaps, between b. c. 856 
and 784. 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


139 


Amos. 

The place of this prophet’s birth is not known, 
but while employed as a herdsman, he was divinely 
appointed to prophesy against Israel. The time 
and manner of his death are also uncertain. He 
appears to have been contemporary with Ilosea, 
and both fulfilled the prophetic office during the 
* reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam II. It has been 
remarked as a peculiar feature of his prophecy, 
th^Lt it abounds with illustrations drawn from 
husbandry, and the scenes of rustic life, but it cer¬ 
tainly contains some of the most perfect specimens 
of sublime thought and beautiful expression that are 
to be found in any language. The date generally 
assigned it is B. c. 810-785. 

REFERENCES IN AMOS. 

v. 26, 27; Acts vii. 42, 43. | ix. 11,12; Acts xv. 16,16,17. 

Hosea. 

Hosea’s prophecy is supposed to have been uttered 
about eight.hundred years before Christ. This pro¬ 
phet was a son of Beeri, and lived in Samaria, and 
his prophecy most probably embraced a period of at 
least eighty years. It was his design to reprove the 
people of Israel for their heinous sins and gross 
idolatry, and to warn Judah against falling into the 
same courses. He is more laconic than any other 


140 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


of the prophets. He writes in short, detached, dis¬ 
jointed sentences. But to these very circumstances 
does his style owe that eagerness and animation by 
which it is characterized. 


1.10,11; Rom. ix. 25, 26. 
n. 23; 1 Pot. ii. 10. 


REFERENCES IN HOSEA. 

vi. 6 ; Matt. ix. 13. 
x. 8; Luke xxiii. 30. 
x. 8; Rev. vi. 16. 


xi. 1; Matt. ii. 15. 
xiii. 14; l Cor. xv. 54, Ac 


Isaiah. 

Though fifth in the order of time, the writings 
of the prophet Isaiah are placed first in order of 
the prophetical books, principally on account of 
the sublimity and importance of his predictions; 
and partly, also, because the hook which bears his 
name is larger than all the twelve minor prophets 
put together. Its references to the advent, offices, 
and kingdom of the Messiah are so numerous and 
exact, as to have obtained for its author the title of 
the evangelical prophet, and the name Isaiah, (the 
salvation of Jehovah,) indicates the same character¬ 
istic of this sublime book. Concerning the family 
and descent of this “prince of all the*prophets,” as 
Bishop Lowth calls him, nothing certain has been 
recorded, except what he himself tells us, (Isa. i. 1,) 
namely, that he was the son of Amoz, (not the pro¬ 
phet,) and discharged the prophetic office “in the 
days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings 




THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 141 


of Judah,” who successively flourished between A. M. 
8194 and 8305 —b. c. 810-698. 


REFERENCE.! IN ISAIAH. 


9. Rom. ix. 29. 

vi. 9, &c.; John xii. 40, &c. 

vii. 14; Luke 1. 34. 

viii. 14; Luke ii. 34. 

viii. 18 ; Ileb. ii. 13. 

ix. 1, 2; Matt. iv. 16. 
ix. 7; Luke i. 32, 33. 
xi. 10 ; Rom. xv. 12. 

xiii. 10; Matt. xxiv. 295 
Mark xiii. 24. 
xxi. 9; Rev. xviii. 2. 


xxii. 22; Rev. iii. 7. 
xxv. 8; 1 Cor. xv. 54. 
xxviii. 11; 1 Cor. xiv. 21. 
xxviii. 16; Rom. ix. 33. 
xxix. 13; Matt. xv. 8. 
xxxv. 5, 8; Matt. ix. 45. 
xl. 3 ; Matt. iii. 3; Luke 
iii. 4. 

xl. 6; 1 Pet. i. 24. 

xiii. 1, &c.: Matt. xii. 18,&c. 

xlv. 9; Rom. ix. 20. 


xlv. 23; Rom. xiv. 11. 
xlix. 6; Acts 13, 47. 
liii.; Matt. xxvi. xxvii 
liv. 1; Gal. iv. 27.’ 
liv. 13; John vi. 45. 
lviii. 7 ; Matt. xxv. 35. 
lix. 20 ; Rom. xi. 26. 
lxi. 1; Luke iv 1 .18. 
lxiii. 1,2; Rev. xix.18. 
lxv. 1; Rom. x. 20. 
lxvi. 24; Mark ix. 44. 


Joel. 

Joel, the son of Bethuel, prophesied before the 
subversion of Judah, but when that event was fast 
approaching, in the reign, as some think, of Man- 
asseh, or, according to others, of Josiah: we can¬ 
not determine, from his predictions themselves, pre¬ 
cisely the time or reign in which they -were de¬ 
livered. He is said to have been of the city of 
Betharan, in the tribe of Beuben, He is distin¬ 
guished f<Jr the fervor, elegance, and sublimity of his 
style, and his short but sublime work exhibits all 
those characters of energy for which the most illus¬ 
trious prophets were celebrated, combined with a 
richness of imagery seldom rivalled, and never sur¬ 
passed. His description of the army of locusts, in 




142 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


ch. 2, and of the effusion of the Spirit in ch. 3, have 
no equal. 

REFERENCES IN JOEL. 

ii. 15; Matt, xxiv, 29; Mark xiii. 24. I ii. 28,32; Acts ii. 16, 21. 

I ii. 32 ; Rom. x. 13,16. 


Micah. 

Micah was a native of Marasha, a village in 
the south of Judah, and is supposed to have pro¬ 
phesied about B. c. 750. He was commissioned 
to denounce the judgments of God against both 
the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, for their idola¬ 
try and wickedness. The principal predictions 
contained in this book are, the invasions of Shal- 
manezer and Sennacherib; the destruction of Sa¬ 
maria and Jerusalem, mixed with consolatory pro¬ 
mises of the deliverance of the Jews from the Baby¬ 
lonian captivity; and of the downfall of their Assy-. 
rian and Babylonian oppressors; the cessation of 
prophecy in consequence of their continued deceitful¬ 
ness and hypocrisy, and a desolation in a then dis¬ 
tant period, still greater than that which was de¬ 
clared to be impending. The birth of the Messiah 
at Bethlehem is also expressly foretold, and the Jews 
are directed to look to the establishment and extent 
of his kingdom, as an unfailing source of comfort 
amidst general distress. There is likewise given a 
contrasted view of the neglected duties of justice, 
mercy, humility, and piety, with the punctilious ob¬ 
servance of the ceremonial sacrifices. The style of 
Micah is nervous, concise, and elegant, often ele- 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


143 


vated and poetical, but sometimes obscure from sud 
den transitions of subject. 

REFERENCES IN MICAH. 

ii. 10; Heb. xiii. 13 14. !v 2; Matt. ii. 5, 6, Jolrnj vii. 6; Matt. x. 35, 36. 
iy. 7 5 Luke i. 33. . j vii. 42. 


Nahum. 

Nahum is supposed to have been a native of 
Elcosh, or Elcosha, a village in Galilee, and to have 
been of the tribe of Simeon. There is great uncer¬ 
tainty about the exact period in which he lived, but 
it is generally allowed that he delivered his predic¬ 
tions between the Assyrian and Babylonian captivi¬ 
ties, and probably about B. c. 715. They relate solely 
to the destruction of Nineveh by the Babylonians and 
Medes, and are introduced by an animated display 
of the attributes of God. 

Of all the minor prophets, says Bishop Lowth, 
none seems to equal Nahum in sublimity, ardor, and 
boldness. His prophecy forms an entire and regu¬ 
lar poem. The exordium is magnificent and truly 
august. The preparation for the destruction of 
Nineveh, and the description of that destruction, are 
expressed in the most glowing colors, and at the 
same time the prophet writes with a perspicuity and 
elegance which have a just claim to our highest ad¬ 
miration. 

REFERENCE IN NAHUM, 
i. 15; Rom. x. 10. 


144 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


Zephaniah. 

Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, and was pro¬ 
bably of a noble family of the tribe of Simeon. 
He prophesied in the reign of Josiah, about B. c. 
630. He denounces the judgments of God against 
the idolatry and sins of his countrymen, and ex¬ 
horts them to repentance; he predicts the pun¬ 
ishment of the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, 
and Ethiopians, and foretells the destruction of 
Nineveh; he again inveighs against the corruptions 
of Jerusalem, and with his threats mixes promises 
of future favor and prosperity to his people, whose 
recall from their dispersion shall glorify the name 
of God throughout the world. The style of Ze¬ 
phaniah is poetical, but it is not distinguished by 
any peculiar elegance or beauty, though generally 
animated and impressive. 

Jeremiah. 

This amiable but afflicted prophet was of the 
sacerdotal race. Anathoth , his native place, was 
only three miles north of Jerusalem. Some have 
supposed his father to have been that Hilkiah, the 
high-priest, by whom the book of the law was found 
in the temple in the reign of Josiah; but for this 
there is no other ground than his having borne the 
same name. 

He appears to have been very young when he 
was called to the exercise of the prophetical office, 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


145 


from which he modestly endeavored to excuse him- 
self by pleading his youth and incapacity; but being 
overruled by the divine authority, he set himself to 
discharge the duties of his function with unremitted 
diligence and fidelity, during a period of at least 
forty-two years, reckoned from the thirteenth year 
of Josiah’s reign. He foretells the destruction of 
Jerusalem, the captivity of the people, (chap. 21, &c.) 
the deliverance of the Church of God at last, and the 
ruin of the enemies of Judah. 

The style of Jeremiah is beautiful and tender to a 
high degree, especially when he has occasion to ex¬ 
cite the softer passions of grief and pity, which is 
not seldom the case in the first parts of his poetry. 
It is, also, on many occasions, very elegant and 
sublime, especially towards the end, (xlvi. 6.) where 
he approaches even the majesty of Isaiah. The his¬ 
torical narratives, occasionally introduced, are writ¬ 
ten in a plain, prosaic style. 


REFERENCES IN JEREMIAH. 


iL 


21 ; 
Mark 
xx. 9. 


Matt. xxi. 33; vi. 16; Matt. xi. 29. 
xii. 1; Luke ix. 23, 24; 1 Cor. i. 29, 31. 

xviii. 6. Rom. ix. 20. 


xxxi. 15; Matt. ii. 17,18. 
xxxi. 31, &c.; Heb. viii. 
8 &c. Heb. x. 16,17. 


Lamentations of Jeremiah. 

This book is a kind of appendix to the prophecies 
of the author, of which, in the original Scriptures, it 
formed a part. It expresses with pathetic tender¬ 
ness the prophet’s grief for the desolation of the city 
and temple of Jerusalem, the captivity of the people, 
13 




146 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE, 


the miseries of famine, the cessation of public wor 
ship, and the other calamities with which his coun¬ 
trymen had been visited for their sins. 

The first four chapters of the Lamentations are in 
the acrostic form, every verse or couplet beginning 
with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in regular 
order. The first and second chapters contain twenty- 
two verses, according to the letters of the alphabet, 
the third chapter has triplets, beginning with the 
same letter, and the fourth is like the first two, hav¬ 
ing twenty-two verses. The fifth chapter is not an 
acrostic. The style of the Lamentations is lively, 
tender, pathetic, and affecting. It was the talent 
of Jeremiah to write melancholy and moving elegies, 
and never was a subject more worthy of tears, nor 
written with more tender and affecting sentiments. 

REFERENCE, 
in. 45; 1 Cor. iv. 13. 

Habakkuk. 

This prophet lived in the reign of Jehoiakim, 
and was contemporary with Jeremiah. He is said 
to have prophesied about B. c. 605, and to have 
been alive at the time of the destruction of Jeru¬ 
salem by Nebuchadnezzar, and it is generally be¬ 
lieved that he remained and died in Judea. The 
principal predictions contained in the book, are, 
the destruction of Jerusalem, and the captivity of 
the Jews by the Chaldeans or Babylonians, their 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


147 


deliverance from the oppressor “ at the appointed 
time,” and the total ruin of the Babylonian empire. 
The promise of the Messiah is confirmed, the over¬ 
ruling providence of God is asserted, and the 
concluding prayer, or rather hymn, recounts the 
wonders which God had wrought for his people, 
when he led them from Egypt into Canaan, and ex¬ 
presses the most perfect confidence in the fulfilment 
of his promises. 

From chap. ii. 3, 4, we may observe the great 
principle which forms the character of the true ser¬ 
vant of God in every age—a passage quoted three 
times in the New Testament (Rom. i. T7; Gal. iii. 
11; Heb. x. 37, 38 ; see, also, Heb. xi; Gal. ii. 20.) 
This principle will enable us, like Habakkuk, to joy 
even in tribulation. Rom. v. 1-3. 

REFERENCES. 

i. 5; Acts xiii. 40, 41, and ii. 3, 4; Rom. i. 17. 


Daniel. 

During the captivity of the Jews, this eminent 
prophet was raised up by God to exhibit and up¬ 
hold the true religion. He was descended from 
the royal family of Judah, and was carried to 
Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem, when 
about 18 or 20 years of age. He was contem¬ 
porary with Ezekiel, who mentions his extraordi¬ 
nary wisdom and piety, Ez. xiv. 14, 20. He was 
placed in the court of Nebuchadnezzar, and was 


148 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


afterward raised to great rank and power in the 
courts, both of the Babylonish and the Persian 
princes. He died at a very advanced age, having 
prophesied during the whole period of the seventy 
years’ captivity. 

Daniel seems to have been the only prophet who 
enjoyed a great share of worldly prosperity, but, 
amidst the corruptions of a licentious court, he pre¬ 
served his virtue and integrity inviolate, and no dan¬ 
ger or temptation could divert him from the worship 
of the true God. The Book of Daniel is a mixture 
of history and prophecy : in the first six chapters is 
recorded a variety of events which occurred in the 
reigns of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Darius, 
and, in particular, the second chapter contains Neb¬ 
uchadnezzar’s prophetic dream concerning the four 
great successive monarchies, and the everlasting 
kingdom of the Messiah, which dream God enabled 
Daniel to interpret. In the last six chapters we 
have a series of prophecies, revealed at different 
times, extending from the days of Daniel to the 
general resurrection. The Assyrian, the Persian, 
the Grecian, and the Roman empires, are all parti¬ 
cularly described under appropriate characters, and 
it is especially declared that the last of them was to 
be divided into ten lesser kingdoms, the time at 
which Christ was to appear is precisely fixed, the 
rise and fall of Antichrist and the duration of his 
power are exactly determined, and the future resto¬ 
ration of the Jews, the victory of Christ over all his 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


149 


enemies, and the universal prevalence of true reli¬ 
gion, are distinctly foretold, as being to precede the 
consummation of that stupendous plan of God, which 
“ was laid before the foundation of the world,” and 
reaches to its dissolution. 

This book abounds with the most exalted senti¬ 
ments of piety and devout gratitude; its style is 
clear, simple, and concise, and many of its prophe¬ 
cies are delivered in terms so plain and circumstan¬ 
tial, that some believers have asserted, in opposition 
to the strongest evidence, that they were written 
after the events which they describe, had taken 
place. 

REFERENCES IN DANIEi. 

vii. 10; Rev. v. 11. | ix. 27; Matt. xxiv. 15. | xii. 7; Rev. x. 5. 


Obadiah. 

• It is not quite certain when this prophet lived, 
but it is highly probable that he was contemporary 
with Jeremiah and Ezekiel, who denounced the same 
dreadful judgments on the Edomites, as the punish¬ 
ment of their pride, violence, and cruel insultings 
over the Jews, after the destruction of their city. 
The prophecy (so Usher) was fulfilled about five 
years after the destruction of Jerusalem. 

The single chapter of which the book consists, di¬ 
vides into two parts—the judgments denounced on 
the Edomites (v. 1-16) the restoration and future 
prosperity of the Jews (v. 17-21). Though partly 
13* 


150 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


fulfilled in the return of the Jews from Babylon, and 
the conquests of the Maccabees over the Edomites 
(1 Mac. v. 3-5, 65, &c.) it is thought to have a fur¬ 
ther aspect to events still future. 

REFERENCE. 

21; Rev. xi. 15 

Ezekiel. 

Ezekiel, like Jeremiah, was a priest as well as 
a prophet. He was carried away captive to Baby¬ 
lon with Jehoiachim, king of Judah, B. c. 598, 
and was placed with many others of his country¬ 
men upon the river Chebar in Mesopotamia, where 
he was favored with the divine revelations con¬ 
tained in his book. He began to prophesy in the 
fifth year of his captivity, and is supposed to have 
prophesied about twenty-one years. The boldness 
with which he censured the idolatry and wicked¬ 
ness of his countrymen is said to have cost him 
his life; but his memory was greatly revered, not 
only by the Jews, but also by the Medes and Per¬ 
sians. 

The book may be divided into four parts. 

Part I. contains th$ glorious appearance of God 
to the prophet, and his solemn appointment to his 
office, with instructions and encouragements for the 
discharge of it, ch. i.-iii. 

Part II. contains denunciations against the Jewish 
people, foretelling the total destruction of the tern- 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


151 


pie and city of Jerusalem, and occasionally predict¬ 
ing another period of yet greater desolation and more 
general dispersion, ch. iv.-xxiv. 

Part III. contains prophecies against various 
neighbouring nations, enemies and oppressors of the 
Jews, ch. xxv.-xxxii. 

Part IV. contains a series of warnings, exhortat¬ 
ions, and promises to the Jews, of future deliver¬ 
ance under Cyrus, but principally of their final re¬ 
storation and conversion under the kingdom of the 
Messiah, ch. xxxiii-xlviii. 

The style of this prophet is characterized by Bi¬ 
shop Lowth as bold, vehement, and tragical, as often 
worked up to a kind of tremendous dignity. He is 
highly parabolical, and abounds in figures and meta¬ 
phorical expressions. The middle part of the book 
is in some measure poetical, and contains even some 
perfect elegies, though the thoughts presented are, in 
general, too irregular and uncontrolled to be chained 
down to rule, or fettered by language. 

REFERENCES IN EZEKIEL. 

L 10; Rev. iv. 7; i ix. 6; l Pet. iv. 17. | xviii. 7; Matt. xxv. 36. 

ix. 4; Rev. vii. 13. | xii. 22; 2 Pet iiL 4. | xxxviii. 2; Rev. xx. 8 

Haggai. 

This prophet is generally reputed to have been 
born in the captivity, and to have returned from Baby¬ 
lon with Zerubbabel. He is the first of the three pro¬ 
phets who flourished among the Jews after their return 


152 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


to their country, and appears to have been raised up 
by God to exhort Zerubbabel and Joshua, the high 
priest, to resume the work of the temple, which 
had been interrupted nearly fourteen years, by the 
Samaritans and others artfully attempting to defeat 
the edict of Cyrus. This temple is a figure of that 
Church in which the Saviour ever dwells, and which 
shall never be destroyed. 

REFERENCES. 

ii. 6, 7; Ileb. xii. 26, 27. | ii. 9; John i. 14. 

Zechariah. 

The place of Zechariah’s birth and the tribe tc 
which he belonged are equally unknown. He began 
to prophesy about two months after Haggai, in the 
second year of Darius Hystaspes, and continued to 
prophesy about two years. He had the same general 
object with Haggai, to encourage and urge the Jews 
to rebuild the temple, and restore its public ordi¬ 
nances. A blessing, we are told, attended his minis¬ 
try. The temple was finished in about six years. 

With this immediate object were connected (as was 
the universal custom of the prophets,) others more 
remote and important. He emblematically describes 
the four great empires (the chariots and horses pro¬ 
bably representing the Babylonian, Persian, Mace¬ 
donian, and Roman empires;) he foretells many cir¬ 
cumstances respecting the future condition of the 
Jews, and the destruction by the Romans, and with 
these he intersperses many moral instructions and 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


153 


admonitions. He also gives many animating de¬ 
scriptions of the blessings of the gospel, in the pro¬ 
mise of the Spirit of grace and supplication, faith in 
the pierced Saviour, and deep repentance, ch. 12, 
and of the fountain for sin and uncleanness, chap. 13 


REFERENCES IN ZECHARIAH. 


lx. 9; Matt. xxi. 4, 5; John xii. 10; John xix. 34, 37. 

xii. 14,15. xii. 10; Rev. i. 7. 

xi. 12,13; Matt, xxvii. 7,10. 


xiii. 7; Matt. xxvi. 3. 
xiii.7; Mark xiv. 27 


Malachi. 

Malachi, the last of the prophets, completed the 
Canon of the Old Testament Scriptures, about 409 
years B. c., towards the end of the government of 
Ezra and Nehemiah. It has been imagined by some 
writers that Malachi (angel or messenger) was merely 
a general name, expressive of office, and given to 
Ezra, whom they suppose the author of this book. 
Others conceive Malachi to have been an incar¬ 
nate angel. Such opinions, however, have no good 
ground. 

This prophecy contains sharp rebukes of the sin 
and folly of the Jews, the most glowing representa¬ 
tions of the Messiah’s advent, and predicts the pre¬ 
paration of His way by the preaching of John the 
Baptist. The nearer the morning approaches, the 
more fully the light shines. 

REFERENCES IN MALACHI. 

hi. 1 ; Mat. xi. 10; Mark i. 2; Luke vii. I iv. 5. 6; Matt. xvii. 10-12; Mark ix. 

27. I 11,12; Luke i. 16,17. 




154 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


OF THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS. 

These are books not admitted into the Sacred 
Canon, because they are either spurious, or at least 
not admitted to be divine. Their names and number 
are as follows: — the two books of Esdras, Tobit, 
Judith, Esther, the Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesias- 
ticus, Baruch, the Song of the Three Children, the 
History of Susannah, Bel and the Dragon, the 
prayer of Manasses, and the four books of the Mac¬ 
cabees. The word apocrypha is of Greek origin, 
and is either derived from apo tes kruptes , because 
the books in question were removed from the crypt, 
chest, or other receptacle, in which the sacred books 
were deposited, or from apo , from , and krupto , 1 
hide , because they were concealed from the generality 
of readers, their authority not being recognized by 
the Church, and because they are books which are 
destitute of proper testimonials, their original being 
obscure, their authors unknown, and their character 
either heretical or suspected. Some of these books 
are found in Syriac, some in Greek, and some only 
in Latin, "while others are extant in all the three lan¬ 
guages, and also in Arabic. 

“ The Apocrypha,” says Dr. Cumming,” was never 
received or admitted by the Jews , to whom were 
divinely entrusted the oracles of God; it is not once 
quoted by our Lord, nor by any of the Apostles, as 
a portion of the sacred volume. Josephus, the cele- 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 155 

brated Jewish historian, who ought to know what 
books were recognized by his countrymen and co¬ 
religionists, disclaims the Apocrypha as part of the 
Old Testament Scriptures. The Apocrypha was not 
recognised by any of the ancient Christian fathers, 
who. are looked up to as being valuable historians, 
however imperfect expositors of Divine Truth. I 
have in my possession the catalogues of Sacred Scrip¬ 
tures, or canon, as recorded by the ancient fathers 
of the Christian Church. Athanasius, who lived in 
the year 340, rejects the whole of the Apocrypha, 
except one book, which he thinks may be inspired, 
called the Book of Baruch. Hilary, who lived in the 
year 354, rejects all the Apocrypha. Epiphanius, 
who lived in the year 368, rejects it all. The Fathers 
in the Council of Laodicea, a. d. 36T, reject all the 
Apocrypha. Gregory of Nazianzum, who lived in 
370, rejects all. Amphilocius, who lived in 370, also 
rejects all. Jerome, who lived in 392, rejects it all. 
And lastly, Gregory the Great, who is asserted by 
Bomanists to have been the first Pope, and who lived 
in 590, rejects the two books of Maccabees, which 
are at this day received by the Roman Catholic 
Church, and in this presents a useful specimen of 
Papal harmony. The Apocrypha, moreover, con¬ 
tains doctrines totally destructive of morality. For 
instance, in the second book of Maccabees, (xiv. 42),' 
we read thus — “ Now, as the multitude sought to 
rush into his house, and to break open the door, and 


156 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 


to set fire to it, when he was ready to he taken he 
struck himself with a sword, choosing to die nobly 
rather than to fall into the hands of the wicked, and 
to suffer abuses unbecoming his noble birth.” In 
these words there is a distinct eulogium upon suicide; 
it is declared, that the man who rushed unbidden 
and unsent into the presence of his God, “ died 
nobly.” To such morality as this we find no parallel 
or counterpart in the rest of the sacred volume. 
And, in the same second book of Maccabees, we read 
that “ it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for 
the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins.’’ 
In other portions of the Apocrypha, especially in the 
book of Tobit, which has been received as inspired, 
it is written “ that to depart from injustice is to offer 
a 'propitiatory sacrifice for injustice, and is the ob¬ 
taining of pardon for sins.” These and other doc¬ 
trines, that might be quoted from the Apocrypha, con¬ 
tradict the plain doctrines of Scripture, and show 
distinctly that these books are not to be confounded 
or identified with the sacred volume, and that, what¬ 
ever objections may lie against the morality of the 
Apocrypha, these do not militate one jot or tittle 
against the morality of what is really the word of 
God.” 


157 


THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 

Books of the Old Testament. 


Chapters. 


Genesis...50 

Exodus.40 

Leviticus.27 

Numbers.36 

Deuteronomy.34 

Joshua.24 

Judges.21 

Ruth. 4 

1 Samuel.31 

2 Samuel.24 

1 Kings.22 

2 Kings.25 

1 Chronicles.29 

2 Chronicles.36 

Ezra.10 

Nehemiah.13 

Esther.10 

Job.42 

Psalms.150 

Proverbs 3i 


14 


Chapters. 

Ecclesiastes.12 

Song of Solomon. 8 

Isaiah. 66 

Jeremiah.52 

Lamentations. 5 

Ezekiel.48 

Daniel.12 

Hosea.14 

J oel. 3 

Amos. 9 

Obadiah. 1 

Jonah . 4 

Micah... 7 

Nahum.. 3 

Habakkuk...- 3 

Zephaniaih .. 3 

Haggai. 2 

Zechariali... —.., .... 14 

Malachi. 4 


\ 


i- 










































\ 



CLOSE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 


Its History closes with the Book of 


NEIIEMIAH, 


Its Pt'opTiecies close with 


MALACHI, 


Who was contemporary with Nehemiab, and lived about 42£) 
years before Christ. 


THE CANON 


Was probably completed by Simon the Just, High Priest, B.c 
292. 

Simon added — 


The Chronicles, 
Ezra, 

Nehemiah, 

Esther, 

Malachi. 


Simon was the last survivor of 120 of the Synagogue, ap* 
pointed by Ezra for perfecting the restoration of the Jewish 
Church. 


158 




CIVIL AND MORAL HISTORY OF THE JEWS, 
FROM MALACHI TO JOHN THE BAPTIST, OR 
DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE OLD 
AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 

1. Civil History of the Jewish Nation. 

Although we have no account of this period in 
Scripture, its events are frequently referred to in 
prophecy, and many of them throw light upon the 
New Testament. The following sketch has for its 
basis statements which may be found in Josephus 
and the books of the Maccabees. 

The inspired history leaves the Jews subject to 
the Persians. When that power was overthrown by 
Alexander the Great, B. c. 330, they became subject 
to him, and on his death, to his successors, forming 
a part of the Egyptian monarchy. During this pe¬ 
riod, many thousands of them were carried into 
Egypt, and their Scriptures were translated into the 
Greek language. After this, the Jews were subject 
to the Syrian monarchy. During this period they 
were so violently persecuted by Antiochus Epiphanes 
(b. c. 168), as to be altogether deprived, for three 
years and a half, of their civil and religious liber¬ 
ties. He went so far as to dedicate the temple of 

159 


160 THE HISTORY OP THE JEWS. 

Jehovah to Jupiter Olympus, erecting his statue on 
the altar of burnt-offering, and punishing with 
death all that could be found acting contrary to 
his decree; this rousing them to resistance, they 
■were restored to liberty by the piety and bravery 
of the family of the Maccabees. These princes con¬ 
tinued to flourish with diminished splendor, and in 
subserviency to the Roman power, till the days of 
Herod, an Idumean by birth, but of the Jewish reli¬ 
gion, who conquered and deposed the family of the 
Maccabees, and was appointed king of the Jews by 
the Romans. Under him our Lord Jesus Christ 
was born, and then, and not till then, was the power 
of life and death taken away from the Jewish 
nation. 

2. Moral History of the Jewish Nation. 

The interval between the close of the Old Testa¬ 
ment and the coming of our blessed Lord, which 
was four hundred years, presents the same illustra¬ 
tion of human depravity which the former history 
of the Jews had done. A striking effect of the 
Babylonish captivity was to destroy in that people 
all tendency to idolatry, to which, before that event, 
they had always been so prone, but it presented 
their depravity in a new shape — that of zeal for 
the form of religion, while they denied the power. 
Multiplying human traditions, and teaching for doc 
trines the commandments of men, they made the 


THE HISTOiv 1 OF THE JEWS. 


161 


Word of God of none effect; and neglecting the only 
standard of truth, they were divided into numberless 
sects, and were filled with contempt of each other, 
and of the world around them. Their very teachers 
are described by our Lord as full of hypocrisy and 
iniquity, and their doctrines such as rendered those 
who embraced them twofold more the children of 
hell than before. 

If, with this view of the moral state of the Jews, 
at the time of our Lord’s advent, we connect the 
account given of the Gentile world — that, under 
every advantage which the wisdom of this world 
could give, polytheism was increasing among the 
vulgar, while among the learned, the prevailing sys¬ 
tems of philosophy were the Epicurean and the Aca¬ 
demic, which struck at the foundation of all religion, 
— we may see at what a crisis of the world’s state 
its Redeemer appeared. 


14 * 


RELIGIOUS SECTS AMONG THE JEWS, AT AND 
BEFORE THE TIME OF CHRIST. 

1. The Pharisees. 

It is not easy to say what was their origin. Some 
have supposed that they sprang from the famed 
Hillel, a doctor of the law, about a hundred and 
fifty years before Christ. They called themselves 
Pharisees , or Separatists (from the Hebrew word 
Pharash , which signifies to set apart, or to sepa¬ 
rate), because they distinguished themselves from 
others in their pretences to strictness. They were 
very numerous and powerful, and the favorite sect 
among the people. They believed in the immor 
tality of the soul, and the resurrection of the body, 
and future rewards for the righteous, whom they 
reckoned to be only the Jews, and that the souls of 
the wicked went directly to hell at their death, yet 
their bodies never rose again. They looked only 
for a Messiah to be a temporal prince, and mighty 
deliverer. They were marked by a supererogatory 
attachment to the ceremonial law, but neglected 
mercy, charity, justice, humility, and the like indis¬ 
pensable virtues. Under a cloak of religion, some 

162 


SECTS AMONG THE JEWS. 


163 


of them indulged themselves in cruelty, dishonesty, 
and oppression, even of widows. They were exces¬ 
sively zealous for the pretended oral law, and the 
superstitious traditions of the elders, and preferred 
them to the oracles of God. By them the Saviour 
was heartily hated and opposed. 

Such was their general character. In some few, 
however, religion was the expression of honest but 
misguided zeal.—Bom. x. 3. 


2. The Sadducees. 

This sect had their name from one Zadoc or Sad- 
doc, who lived about two hundred and eighty years 
before Christ. His master, Antigonus, taught that 
our service of God should be wholly disinterested, 
proceeding from pure love, without any regard to 
future rewards and punishments. Zadoc, from this, 
took occasion to teach, that there were no rewards 
or punishments, nor even life, in a future state. 
The Sadducees believed that God was the only 
immaterial being, and that there was no created 
angel or spirit; that there was no resurrection 
of the dead. They reckoned a man absolutely 
master of all his actions, and that he needed no 
assistance to do good, or to forbear evil, and so 
were very severe judges. They rejected all tradi¬ 
tion, and some authors have contended that they 
admitted only the books of Moses; but there seems 
no ground for this opinion, either in the Scriptures 


164 SECTS AMONG THE JEWS. 

or in any ancient writer. It is generally believed 
that they expected the Messiah with great impa¬ 
tience, which seems to imply their belief in the pro¬ 
phecies, though they misinterpreted their meaning, 
looking for him as a temporal king, with the hope 
of sharing in his conquests and glory. Josephus 
says that the Sadducees were able to draw over to 
them the rich only, the people not following them; 
and he mentions that this sect spread chiefly 
among the young. The Sadducees were far less 
numerous than the Pharisees, but they were, in 
general, persons of great opulence and dignity. 
The council before whom our Saviour and St. Paul 
were carried, consisted partly of Pharisees and 
partly of Sadducees. 

3. The Essenes 

Are reckoned by Philo at 4000, and probably 
owed their origin to Egypt. They maintained that 
religion consisted wholly in contemplation and si¬ 
lence. As they lived in solitary places, and came 
seldom to the temple or public assemblies, they are 
never mentioned in the New Testament. They be¬ 
lieved in the immortality of the soul, and the existence 
of angels, and a state of future rewards and punish¬ 
ments, but scarcely that there would be any resur¬ 
rection of the dead. They believed everything to 
be ordered by an eternal fatality, or chain of causes. 
They disallowed of oaths, and their word they re- 


SECTS AMONG THE JEWS. 165 

garded as fully binding. They observed the Sab¬ 
bath so strictly as not to move a vessel. Some of 
them passed their lives in a state of celibacy. The;? 
fasted much, lived on very little and simple provi¬ 
sion. They despised riches and finery of apparel, 
and wore out their clothes before they changed 
them. They were kind to strangers, but admitted 
none into their society till they had given proof of 
their temperance and chastity. They chose rather 
to suffer torture than to speak evil of their legisla¬ 
tors, Moses, &c., and punished with death such as 
did. They inquired much into the cures of diseases, 
and by means of their temperance many of them 
lived to a great age. In their mode of life they 
seem to have been much like the Shakers of modern 
times. 


The Scribes and Lawyers are often mentioned in 
connection with the foregoing sects, although, 
strictly speaking, they did not form a distinct sect, 
but belonged to all the others. They were learned 
men, and received great deference on that account. 
They were skilful in expounding the law, and upon 
the Sabbath days “ they sat in Moses’ seat” and in¬ 
structed the people. They received their name 
from their first employment,—transcribing the law, 
but in progress of time, from their necessary ac¬ 
quaintance with the Scriptures, they became its 
final expositors. The term lawyer, very probably, 
was of the same import as scribe, although some 



166 


SECTS AMONG THE JEWS. 


suppose that the Scribes taught in public, while the 
Lawyers taught in private in the schools. 


4. The Galileans. 

This sect arose in Judea some years after the 
birth of our Saviour, and sprang from Judas of Ga¬ 
lilee (Gamala), who, in “ the days of the taxing,” 
taught that all foreign domination was unscriptural, 
and that God was the only king of the Jews. Deem¬ 
ing it unlawful to pray for foreign princes, they 
performed their sacrifices apart. As our Saviour 
and his Apostles were of Galilee, they were sus¬ 
pected to be of the sect of the Galileans, and it was 
on this principle, we may suppose, that the Phari¬ 
sees laid a snare for him, asking, “ Whether it were 
lawful to give tribute to Caesar?” that in case he 
denied it, they might have an occasion of accusing 
him 


5. The Herodians. 

This was rather a political than a religious sect. 
W T hat were their distinguishing tenets is not agreed. 
Dr. Prideaux is of the opinion (in which most per¬ 
sons concur) that they derived their name from 
Herod the Great, and that they were distinguished 
from the other Jews by their concurrence with 
Herod’s scheme for subjecting himself and his do¬ 
minions to the Romans, and likewise by complying 
with many of their heathen usages and customs. 


SECTS AMONG THE JEWS. 


167 


This symbolizing with idolatry upon views of inte¬ 
rest and worldly policy, was probably that leaven 
of Herod, against which our Saviour cautioned his 
disciples. It is further probable that they were 
chiefly of the sect of the Sadducees, because the 
leaven of Herod is also denominated the leaven of 
the Sadducees. 


6. Proselytes. 

• 

The Jews distinguished two kinds of proselytes, 
or strangers , as the word signifies. The first were 
called proselytes of the gate. They pledged them¬ 
selves to renounce idolatry, to worship the true God, 
and to abstain from all heathenish practices.- They 
had generally heard of the coming of the Messiah, 
and were free from most of the prejudices of the 
Jews. 

The other class were styled proselytes of justice 
or righteousness. These consisted of such as were 
converted to Judaism, and had engaged to receive 
circumcision, and to observe the whole law of Moses. 
They joined in offering sacrifices to the God of 
Israel in the outer court of the temple. The Phari¬ 
sees took great pains to make these proselytes, and 
were aided in their efforts by the fading authority 
of the old religions, and the reverence in which the 
God of the Jews was held by the heathen. They 
were often among the bitterest enemies of the Chris¬ 
tian faith. 


168 


SECTS AMONG THE JEWS. 


7. The Samaritans. 

This sect had its origin in the time of king Reho* 
boam, under whose reign the people of Israel were 
divided into two distinct kingdoms—that of Judah 
and that of Israel. The capital of the kingdom of 
Israel was Samaria, whence the Israelites took the 
name of Samaritans. 

Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, having besieged 
and taken Samarift, carried away all the people cap¬ 
tives into the remotest parts of his dominions, and 
filled their place with Babylonians, Cutheans and 
other idolaters. These, finding that they were ex¬ 
posed to wild beasts, desired that an Israelitish priest 
might be sent among them, to instruct them in the 
ancient religion and customs of the land. They now 
embraced the law of Moses, with which they mixed 
a great part of their ancient idolatry; and in this 
state the sacred narrative leaves them, at least for 
some ages. Upon the return of the Jews from the 
Babylonish captivity, it is thought they had entirely 
abandoned the worship of their idols. But, though 
they were united in religion, they were not so in 
affection with the Jews, for they employed various 
calumnies and stratagems to hinder their rebuilding 
the temple of Jerusalem, and, when they could not 
prevail, they erected a temple on mount Gerizim, in 
opposition to that of Jerusalem. 2 Kings, 17; 
Ezra, 4, 5, 6. Other events in no small degree in¬ 
creased the hatred and animosity between the Sama- 


SECTS AMONG THE JEWS. 169 

ritans and the Jews. The Samaritans in the time 
of our Lord, sprang from the colonists with whom 
the Assyrian king peopled Samaria after the ten 
tribes were carried away. Their Bible comprehended 
no more than the five books of Moses. 

There is still a very small remnant of the Samari¬ 
tan race found in their ancient country. Their prin¬ 
cipal residence is in that same valley, at the foot of 
the sacred mountain, in which, of old, tho city of 
Shechem or Sichem, denominated in later times Sy- 
char (by the Jews, perhaps in malignant derision— 
for Sychar means drunken), had its beautiful re¬ 
treat, and in that same city, too, though greatly 
altered for the worse, like the whole face of Pales¬ 
tine, from its ancient state, and divested entirely of 
its original appellation, instead of which it now bears 
the name of Napolose or Nablous. 

Christians. 

Though not precisely in its chronological order, I 
shall here insert a notice of the origin and import 
of the name by which the followers of Jesus are dis¬ 
tinguished. “ The disciples were called Christians 
first in Antioch.” (Acts xi. 26.) Antioch was a 
famous city, built on the river Orontes, and the capi¬ 
tal of Syria, where the kings of Syria, the succes¬ 
sors of Alexander the Great, usually resided. There, 
about the year 44, a new term in the vocabulary of 
the human race came into existence. Previously to 
this the followers of Christ were characterized by 
15 


170 SECTS AMONG THE JEWS. 

various names among themselves, such as brethren* 
believers, disciples, and were styled by their ene¬ 
mies, by way of contempt, Nazarenes and Galileans* 
and persons of “ this way.” But then the name was 
given them, which has since spread throughout the 
world, far as the gospel is known. The disciples 
were called Christians, that is, the name was given 
by divine appointment, for the word thus rendered, 
generally signifies an oracular nomination, or a de- 
slaration from God. It cannot be believed that tb* 
disciples assumed this new name first themselves, for 
it is not at all probable that they would have ven¬ 
tured to take a step so important as that of assum¬ 
ing an appellation by which the Church was to be 
distinguished in all ages, without divine direction, 
especially at a time when the extraordinary gifts of 
the Spirit were so common, and in a Church where 
prophets abounded. Nor is it likely that the Jews, 
knowing that the word u Christ” has the same mean¬ 
ing with “ Messiah,” would have used so sacred a 
word to point an expression of mockery and deri¬ 
sion. There is little doubt, therefore, that the name 
originated with the Gentiles, who began to see now 
that this new sect was so far distinct from the Jews, 
that they might naturally receive a new designation. 
But, whatever the origin of the name, it was clearly 
given by a divine monition. What significance, then, 
is there in the fact that, not in Jerusalem, the city 
of the old covenant, the city of the people who were 
chosen to the exclusion of all others, but in a Hea- 


feECTS AMONG THE JEWS. 171 

Inen city, the Eastern centre of Greek fashion and 
Roman luxury, and not until it was shown that the 
New Covenant was inclusive of all others,—that then 
and there God’s people were first called Christians, 
and the Church received from the world, under an 
overruling God, its true and honorable name! What 
blessed import is there in this name, reminding us, 
as it does, that those who worthily wear it, have, 
from mature deliberation and an unbiassed mind, 
embraced the religion of Christ , received his doc¬ 
trine, believe his promises, and make it their chief 
habitual care to shape their lives by his precepts and 
example ! What sad regrets, too, may I not add, 
does this name inspire, as it bears us back from the 
present divisions of Gcd’s people to the happy period 
when the Church of Christ was “ one fold under one 
Shepherd,” and the seamless coat of the Redeemer 
was of one entire piece from the top to the bottom! 

“ 0 Antioch, thou teacher of the world! 

From out thy portals passed the feet of those 
Who, banished and despised, have made thy name 
The next in rank to proud Jerusalem. 

Within thy gates the persecuted few, 

Who dared to rally round the Holy Cross, 

And worship Him whose sacred form it bore, 

Were first called Christians. In thy sad conceit, 

Thou mad’st a stigma of reproach and shame, 

This noblest title of the sons of earth : 

While, save for this, thy name were scarcely known, 
Except among the mouldering vestiges 
Of dim antiquity. So doth our God 
Make all men’s folly ever praise His name.” 


EVENTS BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW 
TESTAMENT SUMMARILY STATED. 

THE JEWS 
Which were in Palestine , 

Governed by High Priests, 
subject to 

1. The Persians, 
under Darius; 

2. To the Greeks, 
under Alexander the Great; 

3. To the Egyptians, 
under the Ptolemies ; 

4. To the Syrians, 
under Antiochus, and successors ; 

5. To the Romans, 
under the Ccesars ; 

By whose authority 

The Herods 

Reigned as Tributary Kings. 

During these Periods 

Jerusalem was entered 

By Alexander , who offered suitable sacrifices to God in the 
temple. 

By Ptolemy Lagus, who carried 100,000 Jews captive into 
Egypt. 

By Ptolemy Euergetes , who offered grateful sacrifices to God 
in the temple. 

By Ptolemy Philopater , son of the former, who offered in the 
temple, but being refused an entrance into the Holy of 
Holies, treated the Jews with great cruelty. 

172 



AFTER CLOSE OF OLD TESTAMENT. 1?3 

By Antiochus Epiphanes , who slew 40,000 Jews, carried 
40,000 away captives, plundered the temple, and defiled 
the Holy of Holies. 

By Antiochus’ general, Apollonius , who destroyed all the men 
that escaped not to the mountains, and made slaves of th6 
women and children. 


THE MACCABEES, 

or Asmoncean Race , 

Rose up at this time, and Mattathias , great-grandson of Asmo* 
neeus, retired with his five sons to the mountains, whose 
exploits are recorded in the book of the Apocrypha. 

Jerusalem was Entered 

By Pompey, the Roman general, who also entered the Holv 
of Holies. 

By Crassus, governor of Syria, who pillaged the temple :f 
10,000 talents of silver, b. c. 54. 


Here ceases 
Profane History, 

And with the Reigns of The Herods Begins 
The New Testament. 




TABLE OF THE BOOKS OF THE NEW 
TESTAMENT. 


r 

Names of Books. 

Authors. 

Where written. 

Date, a . d . 

-1 

Chap.j 

1 

Gospel of Matthewi 





written in He- > 
brew. ) 

Matthew. 

Judea, 

37 or 38 

28 

1 Thessalonians. 

Paul. 

Corinth. 

52 

5 

2 Thessalonians. 

ii 

ii 

52 

3 

! Galatians. 

a 

“ { 

at the close of 52 
or early in 53 

6 

11 Corinthians. 

a 

Ephesus. 

56 

16 

1 Romans. 

u 

Corinth. 

end of 57 

or beginning of 58 

16 



Macedonia,') 



|2 Corinthians. 

I 

“ i 

or Phil- > 
lippi. ) 

58 

13 

| 

jEphesians. 

a 

Rome. 

61 

6 i 

'James. 

James. 

Judea. 

61 

5 I 

(Gospel of Mark. 

Mark. 

Rome. 

Between 60 and 63 

16 i 
1 

4 i 

Philippians. 

Paul. 

i 

End of 62 

or beginning: of 63 

Colossians. 

ii 

ii 

62 

4 ; 

Philemon. 

ii 

“ { 

End of 62 

or early in 63 

1 | 

Hebrews. 

a 

' Italy. ] 

End of 62 

or early in 63 

13 I 

Gospel of Luke. 

Luke. 

Greece. 

63 or 64 

24 

(Acts of the Apostles. 

a 

ii 

63 or 64 

28 

1 Timothy. 

Paul. 

Macedonia, 

64 

6 

Titus. 

U 

ii 

64 

3 

1 Peter. 

Peter. 

Rome. 

64 

5 

2 Peter. 

ii 

ii 

Beginning of 65 

3 

| Jude. 

Jude. 

Unknown. 

64 or 65 

1 

2 Timothy. 

Paul. 

Rome. 

65 

4 

1 John. 

John. 

Probably 1 

68 

5 

Ephesus. J 

or early in 69 


2 and 3 John. 

ii 

Ephesus. | 

6S 

or early in 69 

1 

Revelation. 

a 

Patrnos. 

Probably in 96 

22 

Gospel of John. 

a 

Ephesus. 

* 97 or 98 

21 























THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 


“ The sacred page 

With calm attention scan! If on thy soul, 

As th)u dost read, a ray of purer light 
Break in, 0 check it not, give it full scope! 

Admitted, it will break the clouds which long 
Have dimmed thy sight, and lead thee, till at last 
Convictions, like the sun's meridian beams, 

Illuminate thy mind." 

The Books of the New Testament may be divided 
into three classes :— Historical , Doctrinal, and Pro - 
phetical. Of the first description are the four Gos¬ 
pels and the Acts of the Apostles; of the second, 
the Apostolic Epistles; and of the third, the Book 
of Revelation. All these books, however, are of a 
mixed nature, and contain history , prophecy, and 
doctrine . 

The religious institution of Jesus Christ, says Dr. 
Campbell, is frequently denominated kaine diatheke, 
which is almost always rendered the New Testament , 
yet the word diatheke by itself, is generally trans¬ 
lated covenant . It is the Greek word whereby the 
Seventy have uniformly translated the Hebrew word 

175 


176 THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

JBerith , which our translators have invariably trans¬ 
lated covenant. That the Hebrew term corresponds 
much better to the English word covenant than to 
testament, there can be no question, yet the word 
diatheke in classical use is more frequently rendered 
Testament. As the word Testament implies that, in 
the Gospel unspeakable gifts are bequeathed to us, 
antecedent to all conditions required of us, this title 
may be retained, though that of covenant is more 
exact and proper. 

The term New is added, to distinguish it from the 
old covenant, that is, the dispensation of Moses. 
The two covenants are always in Scripture the two 
dispensations: that under Moses is the old, that un¬ 
der the Messiah is the new. 

The term Gospel denotes the revelation of the 
grace of God to fallen man through a mediator. It 
is taken also for the history of the life, actions, 
death, resurrection, ascension, and doctrine of Jesus 
Christ. The word is compounded of two Saxon 
•words:— God , “good,” and spell, a “message,” 
or “tidings,” and thus corresponds to the Greek 
EvayysXiov, which signifies a joyful message, or good 
news. When the word stands connected with the 
name of either of the Evangelists, it denotes that the 
book bearing that name was written by that Evan¬ 
gelist. For example, when we meet with the ex¬ 
pression the Gospel according to Matthew , we are 
to understand this as meaning, the history of Jesus 


THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 177 

Christ the Son of God, and an account of the salva¬ 
tion offered by and through him, as the same was 
prepared under the guidance of the Holy Ghost by 
Matthew, one of our Saviour’s disciples. 

» The Gospel of Matthew. 

This Apostle was surnamed Levi, and was the son 
of Alpheus, a native of Galilee. Our Lord called 
him from the receipt of custom, and he was there¬ 
fore a publican or tax-gatherer. He was an attend¬ 
ant on our Saviour during the whole time of his 
ministry, was constituted an Apostle, and after the 
ascension he continued at Jerusalem, with the rest 
of the Apostles, till the day of Pentecost. What 
became of him after this period, we know not. His 
gospel, which is placed first in all the collections of 
the sacred books, is almost universally allowed to 
have been the earliest written. Its precise date is 
difficult of determination. The earliest period as¬ 
signed to it is 37, the latest 64. The earlier date 
is probably to be preferred. 

The Gospel of Mark. 

Mark was a Jew, although he bears a Roman 
name. He was the nephew of Barnabas, being his 
sister’s son. He is supposed to have been converted 
to the Gospel by Peter, who calls him his son, 
(1 Pet. v. 13) but no circumstances of his conver¬ 
sion are recorded. He was called first John, and 


178 THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

afterwards Mark, but some have entertained doubts 
whether this were the same person of whom mention 
is made in the Acts and some of Paul’s Epistles, un¬ 
der these two names. He was not an Apostle, but 
is said to have been the constant attendant of Peter, 
and to have composed his narrative with his appro¬ 
bation. Different persons have assigned different 
dates to this Gospel; but it is probable that the pub¬ 
lication of it should be placed about A. D. 68-65. 

The Gospel of Luke. 

This Evangelist bears the same relation to Paul 
as Mark did to Peter, having been a companion and 
assistant to that apostle, and writing his gospel un¬ 
der his direction. He is supposed to have been a 
native of Antioch, descended from Jewish parents, 
and by profession a physician. The time when he 
published his Gospel is referred by some to the year 
58, and by others to the year 63 or 64. Luke seems 
to have had more learning than any other of the 
evangelists, and his language is more varied, copi¬ 
ous, and pure. His gospel contains many things 
which are not contained in the other gospels. 

The Gospel of John. 

The last gospel, it is acknowledged by all the an¬ 
cients, was written by John. He was one of the 
sons of Zebedee, is frequently mentioned in the 
evangelical history, and is distinguished from the 


THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 179 

other apostles as “ the disciple whom Jesus loved.” 
We may conceive him, therefore, while employed in 
compiling this book, not only to have obeyed the im¬ 
pulse of inspiration, hut to have experienced the 
melting tenderness of heart with which a person re¬ 
cords the actions and sayings of a friend. Some 
have assigned, as the date of his gospel, the year 
68 , 69, or 70; others have supposed it to have been 
written about the year 97 or 98, after he had returned 
from Patmos, to which he w T as banished by the em¬ 
peror Domitian. It contains many of our Lord’s 
discourses, not included in the other gospels, and 
opposes several heresies then springing up respect¬ 
ing the person of Christ, whom it proves, in the 
plainest manner, to be both God and man. 

The Acts op the Apostles. 

That the Evangelist Luke was the author of this 
book, is affirmed by the voice of antiquity, and also 
demonstrated from its introduction. The history 
which it contains comes down to the end of the two 
years of Paul’s imprisonment at Rome, soon after 
which he was set at liberty in the year 63, and it is 
probable that about this time the book was written, 
This is the only inspired work -which gives us any 
historical account of the progress of Christianity 
after our Saviour’s ascension. It comprehends a 
period of about thirty years ; but it by no means con¬ 
tains a general history of the Church during that 
time. The principal facts recorded in it are, the 


180 THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

^ • b 

choice of Matthias to he an apostle, in the room of 
the traitor Judas ; the descent of the Holy Ghost on 
the day of Pentecost; the preaching, miracles, and 
sufferings of the apostles at Jerusalem; the death 
of Stephen, the first martyr; the persecution and 
dispersion of the Christians; the preaching of the 
gospel in different parts of Palestine, especially in 
Samaria; the conversion of Paul; the call of Cor¬ 
nelius the first Gentile convert; the persecution of 
the Christians by Herod Agrippa; the mission of 
Paul and Barnabas to the Gentiles, by the express 
command of the Holy Ghost; the decree made at 
Jerusalem, declaring that circumcision and a confor¬ 
mity to other Jewish rites and ceremonies, were not 
necessary in Gentile converts ; and the latter part of 
the book is confined to the history of Paul, of whom 
Luke was the constant companion for several 
years. 

The Epistles. 

The Epistles are letters which were written and 
sent by the Apostles to the churches of Christ, or to 
particular persons. Twenty-one of the books of the 
New Testament are called epistles. The first four¬ 
teen were written by Paul; the other seven were 
written, one by James, other two by Peter, three by 
John, and one by Jude. Why these last seven are 
called general is not easily determined, whether be¬ 
cause the first four of them and the last were written 
to no particular church, or because they easily met 



THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 181 

with a general reception among Christians; but as 
the character does not seem to te of inspired autho¬ 
rity, we need give ourselves the less trouble to know 
the reason of it. 

In reading an epistle, we ought to consider the 
occasion of it, the circumstances of the parties to 
whom it was addressed, the time when written, the 
general scope and design of it, as well as the inten¬ 
tion of particular arguments and passages. We 
ought, also, to observe the style and manner of the 
writer, his mode of expression, the peculiar effect he 
designed to produce on those to whom he wrote, to 
whose temper, manners, general principles, and ac¬ 
tual situation, he might address his arguments, &c. 
It may be added that the epistles afford many and 
most powerful evidences of the truth of Christianity, 
inasmuch as they appeal to a great number of ex¬ 
traordinary facts, and allude to principles, and opin¬ 
ions, as admitted, or as prevailing, or as opposed, 
among those to whom they are addressed. We shall 
notice the Epistles in the order in which they stand 
in the New Testament. 

Romans. 

This epistle was written to Christians whom the 
Apostle Paul had not yet seen, who lived at Rome, 
which was then the chief city of the whole world. 
It was written a. d. 57, or 58, in Corinth. Tertius 
was Paul’s secretary on this occasion. In it, the 
Apostle, after assuring the Christian Church, to 
16 


182 THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

which he wrote, of his regard for them, describes the 
deplorably corrupt state of all men by nature, 
whether Gentiles or Jews, and the impossibility of 
justification before God by works of our own; he 
shows that, as in Adam we are all counted sinners, 
so in Jesus Christ we are first in order rendered 
righteous in justification, and then made holy in 
sanctification. After rehearsing several of the 
h a ppy fruits of our union with Christ, such as free¬ 
dom from the law, and from the power of sin, adop¬ 
tion into the family of God, possession of his in¬ 
dwelling spirit, assurance of his love, perpetual care 
of his Providence, and endless enjoyment of his pre¬ 
sence, he treats of the purpose of election, and of 
God’s sovereignty in rejecting the Jews, and calling 
the Gentiles to a state of church-membership, and 
foretells the happy state of both Jews and Gentiles 
in the promised millennium, chaps, i-xi. In the last 
part he applies his subject, exhorting to a variety of 
duties towards God, towards each other, towards 
magistrates, weak brethren, and ministers, and con¬ 
cludes with several salutations, and a warning against 
schism, chaps, xii-xvi. 

Dr. Macknight says of this epistle, that, “for 
sublimity and truth of sentiment, for brevity and 
strength of expression, for regularity in its struc¬ 
ture, but, above all, for the unspeakable importance 
of the discoveries which it contains, it stands unri¬ 
valled by any mere human composition, and as far 
exceeds the most celebrated productions of the 


THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 183 

learned Greeks and Romans, as the shining sun ex¬ 
ceeds the twinkling of the stars.” 


First and Second Corinthians. 

Corinth, the capital of Achaia, was situated on 
the isthmus which separates the Peloponnesus from 
Attica. This city was one of the most populous, 
and wealthy, and renowned of all Greece. It was 
scarcely less celebrated for the learning and inge¬ 
nuity of its inhabitants, than for the extent of its 
commerce, and the magnificence of its buildings. 
The lustre, however, which this famous city derived 
from the number and genius of its population, was 
greatly tarnished by their debauched manners. 
Here the great Apostle of the Gentiles came to 
preach the Gospel, in the year of Christ 52, and 
here he continued nearly two years, encouraged by 
the Divine presence ,and blessing upon his ministry, 
converting numbers to the faith of Christ, whom he 
formed into a Christian church. To this church, 
after his departure, he wrote his two epistles, the 
one in the year 56 or 57, the other in the following 
year. In the first , he corrects abuses, arising from 
the conduct of false teachers, and gives advice in 
some particular cases which had been submitted to 
him. In the second , he defends' himself from 
charges falsely made against him, exhorts to refor¬ 
mation, and threatens the impenitent. 


184 THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

Galatians. 

Galatia was a province in Asia Minor. In this 
province the Gospel was early preached by Paul, 
and churches were established. In the Acts of the 
Apostles we learn that he visited this country more 
than once, the first time about the year 50 (Acts 
xvi. 6), and the second, about the year 54 or 55. 
The date of his Epistle to the Galatians is very un¬ 
certain, and it has been assigned to almost every 
year between 48 and 52. It probably was written 
between his two visits, at the end of 52, or begin¬ 
ning of 58. His main object throughout nearly the 
whole of it is, to counteract the pernicious influence 
of the doctrine of false teachers, particularly as it 
respected the article of justification, or a sinner’s 
acceptance before God. And in no part of the 
Apostle’s writings is that important doctrine handled 
in a more full and explicit manner, nor does he any 
where display such a firm, determined, and inflexi¬ 
ble opposition to all who would corrupt the truth 
from its simplicity. 


Ephesians. 

Ephesus was a much celebrated city of Ionia, in 
Asia Minor, forty-five miles south-east of Smyrna, 
situated upon the river Cayster, and on the side of 
a hill five miles from the sea. It was formerly in 
great renown among heathen authors on account of 


THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 1.85 

its famous temple of Diana. The Apostle visited 
this populous city, a. D. 54, hut being then on his 
way to Jerusalem, he abode there only a few weeks, 
Acts, 18 : 19-21. During his short stay, he found 
a synagogue of the Jews, into which he went, and 
reasoned with them on the interesting topics of his 
ministry, with which they were so pleased that they 
wished him to prolong his visit. This invitation he 
declined, as he had determined, God willing, to be 
at Jerusalem at an approaching festival; but he pro¬ 
mised to return, and did so a few months afterwards, 
and continued there three years, Acts xix. 10, 20, 31. 
Such was the success of the Gospel, that magical 
books to the value of more than thirty thousand 
dollars were burnt by the converted Ephesians. 
The Epistle to them was written during the Apos¬ 
tle’s imprisonment in Rome, probably in the year 
61. It breathes nothing but affection. The first 
three chapters contain the doctrines, and the last 
three the practice of the Gospel. The order in 
which doctrine and practice are delivered, and the 
connection between both, are instructive. As Paul 
was exceedingly rejoiced at the happy intelligence 
he had received of the faith and holiness of the 
Ephesian Church, the style of his Epistle to them 
is very animated. “No real Christian,” says Dr, 
Macknight, “ can read the doctrinal part of this * 
Epistle without being impressed and roused by it 
as by the sound of a trumpet.” 

16 * 


186 THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 


Philippians. 

Philippi was a city of Macedonia, so called from 
Philip, king of Macedon, who repaired and beautified 
it, whence it lost its former name Dathos. Paul 
here introduced the gospel, A. D. 52. The Philip¬ 
pians seem to have conceived a very strong affection 
towards him, which they showed by their generous 
contributions. This Epistle was written by Paul, 
from Pome, during his imprisonment, in the year 62 
or 63. The design is altogether practical, and seems 
to have been, “to comfort the Philippians under 
their concern at his imprisonment; to check a party 
spirit that appeared to have broken out among them ; 
and to promote, on the contrary, an entire union and 
harmony of affection; to guard them against being 
seduced from the purity of the faith by Judaizing 
teachers , to support them under the trials with which 
they struggled, and, above ail, to inspire them with 
a concern to adorn their profession by the most emi¬ 
nent attainments in the divine life.” 

Colossians. 

Colosse, a city of Phrygia Minor, stood on the 
river Lyceus, at an equal distance between Laodicea 
and Hierapolis. The proximity of these three cities, 
accounts for the fact that Paul, when writing to his 
Christian brethren in the first, mentions all the 
places in connection with each other. The date of 
this epistle is about the same with that to the Ephe- 


THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 187 


sians. Between these two epistles there is a strong 
resemblance, both in sentiment and expression; so 
much so, that Michaelis remarks : “ Whoever would 
understand these epistles must read them together, 
for the one is in most places a commentary upon the 
other—the meaning of single passages in one epistle, 
which alone might be variously interpreted, being 
determined in parallel passages in the other epistle.” 


1st and 2d Thessalontans. 

Thessalonica, the capital city of Macedonia, stood 
upon the Thesmaic sea. It was anciently called 
Hal is and Thermae, but Philip, the father of Alex¬ 
ander the Great, named it Thessalonica , to com¬ 
memorate his victory over the Thessalians. A Chris¬ 
tian Church was first established in Thessalonica by 
Paul, about A. D. 50. His first epistle was written 
to them, from Corinth, in the year 52. It is gene¬ 
rally believed that the messenger who carried this 
epistle into Macedonia, upon his return to Corinth, 
informed Paul that the Thessalonians had inferred, 
from some expressions in it, that the coming of 
Christ and the final judgment were near at hand, and 
would happen in the time of many who were then 
alive (1 Thess. iv. 15, 17; v. 5). The principal de¬ 
sign of the second epistle, which was written soon 
after the first, was to correct that error, and prevent 
the mischief which it would naturally occasion. 


188 THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

1st and 2d Timothy. 

There is much dispute about the date of the former 
of these Epistles, which has been fixed to the years 
57 and 64. The latter was written while Paul was 
in bonds, but whether during his first or second im¬ 
prisonment, is doubtful. Timotheus, commonly called 
Timothy,, was a native of Lystra, a city of Lycaonia, 
in Asia Minor. His father was a Gentile, but his 
mother was a pious Jewess, who carefully and dili¬ 
gently instructed his infant mind in the truths of the 
Old Testament. (Acts xvi. 1-3; 2 Tim. i. 5). Paul 
calls him his “ own son in the faith,” from w T hich ex¬ 
pression it is inferred that he was converted under 
Paul’s ministry. After being regularly appointed to 
the ministerial office, and laboring some time with 
Paul, Timothy was set over the Church of Ephesus. 
The first epistle was written to assist him in the duty 
of watching over that church, and it is useful for the 
direction of the ministers of the Church, in the'dis¬ 
charge of their office, to the end of time. The 
second was written, probably near the close of Paul’s 
life, to exhort Timothy to endure persecutions with 
courage, and to caution him against false teachers. 

Titus. 

It is not known when, or where, the Epistle to 
Titus was composed, and several years have been 
mentioned from 52 to 64. Titus was a Greek, and 
was probably converted to Christianity by Paul, 


THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 189 

though the time of his conversion is not known. He 
is first mentioned as going from Antioch to the coun¬ 
cil at Jerusalem, A. D. 49 (Gal. ii. 1, &c.), and upon 
that occasion Paul says that he would not allow him 
to be circumcised, because he was born of Gentile 
parents. After accompanying Paul for some time, 
as a partner and fellow-helper (2 Cor. viii. 23). 
Titus was left at Crete, an island in the Mediter¬ 
ranean sea, which is now called Candia. In this 
epistle there was given him important advice respect¬ 
ing the instruction and regulation of the Church at 
that place, which is applicable to ministers of the 
gospel in every age. 


Philemon. 

Philemon was a rich citizen of Colosse, in Phrygia. 
He and his wife Apphia were very early converted 
to the Christian faith by Paul or Epaphras, and the 
Christians held their meetings in his house. His 
slave, Onesimus, having eloped from him, and come 
to Rome, was converted by Paul’s ministry, and was 
very useful to him. in his imprisonment. Paul sent 
him back with this recommendatory letter, request¬ 
ing Philemon to forgive him, and charge what he 
might have wronged him to Paul’s own account. 
The epistle was probably written in the year 62. Its 
tenderness and delicacy have been long admired. 
Some passages in it are most touching and persua¬ 
sive. Yet the character of Paul prevails in it through¬ 
out. The warm, affectionate, authoritative teacher 


190 THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 


is interceding with an absent friend for a beloved 
convert. 


Hebrews. 

Though the authorship of this epistle has been dis¬ 
puted, both in ancient and modern times, its anti¬ 
quity has never been questioned. Some have been 
led by the fact of the absence of the usual apostoli¬ 
cal introduction, to question whether it is an epistle, 
or a treatise upon the subjects to which it refers, but 
the characteristics of an epistle are evidently seen in 
it. With regard to the author , the weight of evi¬ 
dence preponderates greatly in favor of Paul. It 
must have been written after his release from prison, 
in the year 62 or 63. It is generally believed to 
have been intended for the use of the Jewish con¬ 
verts in Palestine, who were called Hebrews, to dis¬ 
tinguish them from Jews in foreign countries, who 
were styled Hellenists and Grecians. “ The Epistle 
to the Hebrews,” Dr. Hales observes, “ is a masterly 
supplement to the epistles to the Romans and Gala¬ 
tians, and, also, a luminous commentary on them, 
showing that all the legal dispensation was originally 
designed to be superseded by the new and better 
covenant of the Christian dispensation, in a con¬ 
nected chain of argument, evincing the profoundest 
knowledge of both.” “We here find the great doc¬ 
trines which are set forth in other parts of the New 
Testament, stated, proved, and applied to practical 
purposes, in the most impressive manner.” 


THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 191 


James.* 

There was another person of this name, who was 
the brother of John, and was put to death by Herod ; 
but this James, whose name the epistle bears, was 
the son of Alpheus, or Cleophas, and is called the 
brother of our Lord, because he was nearly related 
to him. He is sometimes called James the Just, this 
honorable title having been given to him, for the dis¬ 
tinguished holiness of his life. He is said to have 
resided much in Jerusalem, where he wrote this 
epistle, it is supposed, in the year 61, and suffered 
martyrdom in the year 62. Dr. Harwood pro¬ 
nounces this epistle to be one of the finest and most 
finished productions of the New Testament. The 
diction is very neat, chaste, and correct; the periods 
are pure and perspicuous; the composition is ele¬ 
gantly concise and sententious; and the sentiments 
are noble and instructive. The epistle contains an 
excellent summary of those practical duties and 
moral virtues which are required of Christians. 
Paul proves, against the self-righteous, that man is 
6aved by faith, and James proves, against the licen¬ 
tious, that the faith which saves will ever lead men 

* This Epistle, the two of Peter, the First of John, and the 
Epistle of Jude, are known under the appellation of The 
Catholic Epistles , and were so denominated, as some sup¬ 
pose, because addressed, not to people dwelling in one place, 
but to the Jews dispersed through all the countries in the 
Roman empire. 


192 THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

to obey God, and produce good works, which are 
faith’s proper expression and attestation. 

First and Second Peter. 

The first of these Epistles was written to the Chris¬ 
tians in the different provinces of Asia Minor. It 
was sent from Babylon , by which some understand 
the mystical Babylon, or the city of Rome; but for 
this opinion there are not satisfactory reasons. In 
whatever place it was written, it is assigned to the 
year 64. The second epistle seems to have been 
written not long after, for the Apostle signifies that 
his death was near, which is said to have taken 
place in the year 65. In the former, regard was 
principally had to the Jewish converts, to edify and 
comfort them in their afflictions. In the latter, be¬ 
lievers were warned against false prophets, who per¬ 
verted the gospel, and were exhorted not only to 
stand fast in the faith, but, also, to grow in grace. 

The Three Epistles of John. 

Although the name of the Apostle John is not 
prefixed to, or contained in, these epistles, they have 
been invariably, and with unquestionable correct¬ 
ness, ascribed to him from the first ages. Various 
dates have been assigned to the first epistle, from 
the year 68 to 92. The second and third have been 


THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 193 

referred to the year 69. The first was designed to 
refute certain heresies which had come to prevail, 
such as the denial of the real deity and proper hu¬ 
manity of Christ, and of the reality and efficacy of 
his sufferings and death, as an atoning sacrifice, and 
the assertion that believers, being saved by grace, 
were not required to obey the commandments of God. 
The second was written to some lady of rank and 
piety, to encourage her to persevere in the truth and 
love of God, and to exhort her to beware of those 
heretics who denied the incarnation of Christ. The 
third was written to Gaius, a man of great wealth, 
piety, and hospitality, to request him to help for¬ 
ward some missions among the Gentiles. 

The Epistle of Jude 

Jude, or Judas, who was surnamed Thaddeus, and 
Lebbeus, was the son of Alphaeus and Mary, and 
brother of James the Less, and one of the twelve 
apostles. His epistle was written, probably, be¬ 
tween A. D. 64 and 70. It was not, as is commonly 
thought, addressed to any one church in particular, 
but w*as a general letter to all believers. It was de¬ 
signed to guard believers against the false teachers 
who had begun to insinuate themselves into the 
Christian Church, and to urge them to contend with 
the utmost earnestness for the true faith, against the 
dangerous opinions such teachers promulgated, 
making religion to consist in a bare speculative 
belief, and an outward profession of the gospel. 

17 


194 THE BOOKS OE THE NEW TESTAMENT. 


The Revelation. 

Besides his gospel, and three epistles, the Apostle 
John was the author of this last hook of the New 
Testament, to which the word Apocalypse, signify¬ 
ing revelation , is particularly applied. It was writ¬ 
ten about the year 96. John was banished to Pat¬ 
inos by Domitian, from which he was permitted to 
return after the death of that emperor, which hap¬ 
pened about the time just mentioned. In his exile 
the Apostle was favored with the appearance of the 
Lord Jesus Christ to him, and was repeatedly com¬ 
manded to commit to writing the visions which he 
beheld. The design of the book is two-fold: first, 
generally to make known to the Apostle “ the things 
which are,” that is, the then present state of the 
Christian churches in Asia, and, secondly, and prin¬ 
cipally, to reveal to him “ the things which shall be 
hereafter,” or the constitution and fates of the 
Christian Church, through the several periods of 
propagation, corruption, and amendment, from its 
beginnings to its consummation in glory. “ To ex¬ 
plain this book perfectly,” says Bishop Newton, “is 
not the work of one man, or of one age, but proba¬ 
bly it never will be clearly understood, till it is all 
fulfilled.” It is graciously designed that the gra¬ 
dual accomplishment of these predictions should 
afford, in every succeeding period of time, additional 
testimony to the divine origin of our holy religion. 


THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 195 


Thus, as we have observed, in advancing, if Jesus 
appears to us in the gospels, as a weeping babe, a 
man of sorrows, and a writhing sufferer, we see him 
in the closing book of the canon, a glorious con¬ 
queror, with prostrate saints adoring him, and many 
crowns upon his head. Thus, too, is it seen, that if 
God’s Book began with a record of Paradise lost, it 
ends w T ith more than Paradise regained. 

“As through the artist's intervening glass 
Our eye observes the distant planet pass, 

A little we discover, but allow 

That more remains unseen than art can show; 

So, whilst our mind its knowledge would improve, 

(Its feeble eye intent o-n things above,) 

High as we may lift our reason up, 

By Faith directed, and confirmed by Hope; 

Yet we are able only to survey 
Dawnings of beams, and promises of day. 

Heaven’s fuller effluence mocks our dazzled sight; 

Too great its swiftness, and too strong its light; 

But soon the ’mediate clouds shall be dispelled, 

The Sun shall then be face to face beheld, 

In all his robes, with all his glory on, 

Seated sublime on his meridian throne.” 


5 * 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


Like all other ancient writings, the Holy Scrip* 
tures present many difficulties. Some of these are 
not easy of solution, -while others may be satisfac¬ 
torily explained. The existence of difficulties in 
such a book was to be expected, and therefore can¬ 
not be wondered at. It is a matter of astonishment, 
indeed, that more are not to be found in it. This 
must be evident to any one, on reflecting that “ the 
books of Scripture were written by different persons, 
in almost every variety of circumstance; that they 
refer to people whose customs and habits were to¬ 
tally dissimilar to our own; that they narrate histo¬ 
ries of which we possess no other authentic docu¬ 
ments, which might reflect light on some obscurity 
of expression or vagueness of description; that they 
were written in other languages than those in which 
we now possess them; and that, in addition to the 
mutability of language, there are the difficulties of 
translation out of one tongue into another." 

The proper spirit in which to deal with these dif¬ 
ficulties is, to remove them as far as this is practi¬ 
cable, and to cleave and submit to the truth, even 
when every cloud cannot be cleared away from it. 

196 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


19T 


We should imitate the example of the Apostles, who, 
when some of the disciples were offended bj what 
they called a “ hard saying,” so as to forsake Christ, 
silenced every objection with this—“ Lord, to whom 
shall we go ? thou hast the words of eternal life, 
and we believe, and are sure, that thou art the 
Christ, the Son of the living God.” When Moses 
saw an Egyptian fighting with an Israelite, and try¬ 
ing to destroy him, he slew the Egyptian and let 
the Israelite go. When he saw an Israelite fighting 
with an Israelite, he separated them and made them 
friends. Even so, whenever and wherever we see 
an error assaulting or overlaying a truth, let us de¬ 
stroy the error and emancipate the truth; but when 
we see a truth seemingly in conflict with a truth, 
let us reconcile them, and show them thus reconciled 
to all . 


Difficult Texts Explained. 

Genesis, i. 1. “In the beginning, &c” It is not said whe- 
ther this “ beginning” was the commencement of time, or far 
back of the creation of man, and long before the present geo¬ 
logical period. 

Genesis, i. 5. “And God called the light day, &c.” Though 
the sun was not made until the fourth day, it is not true that 
there could be no day without the sun, as some have affirmed. 
By recent discoveries (or rather, the recent revival of old 
ones) we are taught to believe that light does not consist in 
certain particles coming to us in a direct ray from the sun, 
or any other luminous body ; but is a subtle fluid diffused 
through all space, and capable of being acted on in a thou- 

17* 


198 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


sand various ways. It is not said that the sun, as a body 
was created on the fourth day, but only that it was then ap¬ 
pointed for a special purpose 

Genesis, i. 26. “ Let us make man in our own image, &c ,” 
that is, naturally, in spirituality and immortality ; morally, in 
“ righteousness and true holiness,” and politically, as having 
dominion over all the earth. 

Genesis, ii. 3. “ He had rested from all his works, <$cc” 
This refers to God’s cessation from creating and making; and, 
John, v. 7, refers to the ceaseless workings of providence. 

Genesis, ii. 5. “And there was not a man to till the ground .” 
This verse is not contradictory to chap. i. 27, where the crea¬ 
tion of Adam had been already affirmed. The inspired his¬ 
torian first gives a general account of the whole creation, in 
six days, and then, carrying on his history, describes parti¬ 
cularly the formation of Adam and Eve. 

Genesis, iv. 6. “ Cain went out from the presence of the 

Lord :” that is, went out from the place of worship and of 
Divine manifestation. 

Genesis, iv. 7. “ If thou doest well, shalt thou not he accept, 
ed ?” &c. Sacrifices were of two sorts, eucharistical and ex¬ 
piatory; the former consisting of the fruits of the earth, the 
latter of a living animal, the life of which God would accept 
instead of that of the offender. Abel brought a sacrifice of 
atonement, acknowledging himself a sinner. Cain brought 
a sacrifice of thanksgiving, expecting to be accepted with¬ 
out repentance. God thus expostulates with Cain: “ If 
thou wert so righteous as to need no atoning sacrifice, thou 
shouldst be accepted; as thou art not, sin will lay in the way 
till thou hast removed it by an atoning sacrifice of sin- 
offering.” 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 199 

Genesis, iv. 17. “ And Cain knew his wife, &c.” It is as¬ 
serted that Adam “begat sons and daughters,” (Gen. v. 4,) 
meaning, doubtless, sons and daughters not named in any 
catalogue of his children. Nor did Cain sin by marrying his 
sister, as there was a necessity for such marriages at the 
time, and the law forbidding them had not been given. 

Genesis, iv. 26. “ Then began men to call upon the name of 
the Lord ” Men had begun to do so before. Dr. Boothroyd, 
and others, translate the passage, “ Then began men to be 
called by the name of Jehovah.” 

Genesis, vi. 3. “My spirit shall not alivays strive with man.” 
Not always plead with man on account of his errors, for he 
is flesh, yet his days shall be 120 years.— Dr. Boothroyd. 

Genesis, vi. 6. “ And it repented the Lord that he had made 
man,” Acc. God accommodates his language to our concep¬ 
tions, that we may more easily apprehend his character and 
perfections. Here, the cause is put for the effect, by a well 
known figure of speech, and the change of His mind signifies 
merely a change of dispensation. The repentance was only 
apparent. 

Genesis, ix. 25. “ And Noah said, cursed be Canaan, a ser¬ 
vant of servants shall be he unto his brethren.” Infidels cavil 
at this curse, because it falls on the descendants of the offen¬ 
der, Ham, the son of Noah. It may be replied, that the curse 
fell upon the offender in his own proper person. The vices 
of the Canaanites could not but be their plague, whatever 
had been the character of Ham. The wretched slavery of that 
people was not inflicted in consequence of their father’s 
crime, but their slavery was foretold as a punishment on 
their ancestor. Had he been a good and righteous man, he 
might have been spared the foresight of so much misery. 


200 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


Genesis, xxii. 2. “ Take now thy son , thine only son” &c. 
God had no design to accept such a sacrifice, nothing more 
was intended than to make trial of the faith of the patriarch, 
and furnish a noble example of obedience to succeeding gene¬ 
rations. But, if Isaac had been slain, would any injustice 
have been done? Not surely to Isaac, whose life was for¬ 
feited by sin, like that of all other men, and might be taken 
from him in this way as well as by disease. It would have 
been painful to, his father to be the agent; but the right of 
the Supreme Governor to prescribe any service to his sub¬ 
jects is indisputable, and in obeying Him they can do nc 
wrong. 

Genesis, xii. 13. “ Say, I pray thee . thou art my sister ” &c. 
Abram, in this instance, evidently did wrong, but neither 
God nor his historian is responsible for the prevarication. It 
is merely recorded as a historical fact, without any approval 
or attempt at palliation. The same thing is true of the faults 
and sins which are recorded of Moses, David, Jonah, Elijah, 
Peter, &c. The registering of these things is proof of the 
stern fidelity of the sacred writers. 

Genesis, xxxvi. 2—3, as compared with chap. xxvi. 34. In 
the East different names were often applied to one person. 
Esau had three wives, and each of them is spoken of under 
two names, making six names for them all. 

Genesis, xlvi. 8-27. For the genealogical list of Jacob’s 
family, here given, as consistent with itself, and reconcilable 
with Stephen s statement in Acts, vii. 14, see a subsequent 
chapter. 

Exodus, iv. 21. “ I will harden Pharaoh's heart.” Pro¬ 
perly, I will permit Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened. God 
did not actually interfere to strengthen and confirm the ob- 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


201 


stinacy of Pharaoh, but, moved by that obstinacy, He with¬ 
drew from him, gradually, all the restraints of His grace ; 
and, as these restraints were removed, the heart of the king 
■was more and more hardened. 

Exodus, vii. 11. “ Then Pharaoh also called the wise men 
and the sorcerers ” &c. It is not true, as has been alleged, 
that the magicians performed miracles as well as Moses. Ill 
every instance in which they attempted to compete with him, 
they fell infinitely below him, and at last gave up the attempt, 
confessing that “ the finger of God” was with him. 

Exodus, xi. 2. “ Speak now in the ears of the people , and 
let every man borrow of his neighbour ,” &c. There is no evi¬ 
dence that the Israelites designed to deceive the Egyptians; 
everything in the narrative goes to show that the people ex¬ 
pected to return, and were perfectly honest in thus dealing 
with their neighbors. The word borrowed is rendered ask in 
Psalms, ii. 8. 

Exodus, xx, 5. “ Visiting the iniquities of the fairiers upon 
the children ,” <&c. Apart from the teaching of the Bible, it 
is a fact which observation attests, that, in diseased constitu¬ 
tions, dishonored names, and broken fortunes, the physical 
consequences of the sins of parents are entailed upon their 
posterity. 

Exodus, xxv. 8. “Let them make me a sanctuary , that I may 
dwell among them.” 

Acts, vii. 48. “ The Most High dwelleth not in temples made 
with hands.” The former text describes the majesty of God, 
the latter his grace. The one is his absolute dwelling, “light 
inaccessible, and full of glorythe other is his special and 
gracious presence: “wheresoever two or three are met toge¬ 
ther in my name, there am I in the midst.” 





202 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


Numbers, xxii. 22. “ And God’s anger was kindled because 

he went.” It is true that God told Balaam to go, (v. 20,) but 
as he was first positively forbidden to go, and, instead of obey¬ 
ing, yielded to temptation, (v. 17,) and persuaded Balak's 
messenger to remain all night, (v. 19), and thus sinned, God 
gave him up to his own wficked heart, and that his punish¬ 
ment might be wrought upon him, said, in answer to his 
solicitations, go. 

Numbers, xxv. 9. “And those that died in the plague were 
twenty and four thousand.” Paul, in 1 Cor. x. 8, speaks of 
twenty-three thousand ; but he refers only to those who “ fell 
in one day,” while the text includes all that died on that occa¬ 
sion, even those who were destroyed by the judges. 

Deuteronomy, x. 6 . “ There” (at Mosera) “Aaron died , 

and there he was buried.” It is said, in Numbers, that Aaron 
died at Mount Hor. Mosera was the name of the district in 
which Hor is situated. Besides, the word there (scham) may 
be here used to designate the time of Aaron's death, and be 
translated then , or at that time , as it is in several other pas¬ 
sages. 

Deuteronomy, xxxiv. “Death of Moses.” There is reason 
to believe that this passage originally formed an introduction 
to the book of Joshua, and became separated from it by the 
division of the books into chapters and verses, or at some 
earlier period. 

Joshua, x. 13. “And the sun stood still, and the moon 
stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their ene¬ 
mies.” The miracle here recorded, was known to those of 
old who had no means of access to the divine writings. We 
find the event mythologically related, and there is not one sys¬ 
tem of belief, of which astronomical observations have formed 
a part, in which this “ long day” has not been noticed. 

In the original, the phrase, “ Sun, stand thou still,” is, 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


203 


“ Sun, be thou dumb (withhold thy influence ) while over 
Gibeon, and thou, Moon, over the valley of Ajalon.” There 
are two reasons why Joshua called upon the “ Sun” to stand 
still, instead of giving the scientific command according to 
our ideas,— “Earth, stand thou still.” 1. The command was 
not addressed to the sun only, but to the sun and moon jointly. 
“Sun, stand thou still,” or “ withhold thine influence,” would 
have the effect of restraining the operation both of earth and 
moon, and keeping them in their relative position. 2. The 
command, as given, would be more intelligible to those to 
whom the words were addressed. As the Amorites were 
pre-eminently adorers of the heavenly bodies, it would tend 
to show them how great was the power of the true God against 
those very beings whom they worshipped, if Joshua uttered 
his command as he did, to the objects of their idolatry. So, 
likewise, the suspension of a general planetary law would 
plainly affect the moon as well as the sun, and thus would it 
appear, as though Joshua had been well acquainted with this 
fact. 

The phrase, “ Sun, stand thou still,” does not necessarily 
mean that its influence was suddenly withdrawn. All we are 
told is, that the sun “ hasted not to go down for a whole day.” 
The sun slackened its apparent motion, or we may say the 
earth slackened, at the Divine command, its actual motion, 
and thus, though there would be an apparent cessation of the 
motion of the sun, it would be but gradually stayed, and 
stayed only for such a period as, in the exercise of His wis¬ 
dom, God thought fit to permit. But we must observe that 
the term, “Be thou dumb,” or “withhold thine influence,” 
is one which is peculiarly applicable. It is a form of expres¬ 
sion to be found, not only in the Hebrew language, but in 
other idioms; and we have an instance of this in one of the 
most sublime poets, (Dante,) who, whether he copied from the 
divine writings, or whether it struck his own mind, speaks 
of the sun as being silent, when referring to those places 
where the light of the sun is not seen. If, then, we under- 


204 SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 

stand that the earth did stay its motion in obedience to the 
command, “ Sun, stand thou still,” or “withdraw thine influ¬ 
ence,” that that motion was gradually slackened for the period 
during which the miracle lasted, and that then it continued 
at the rate at which it had gone on before, we shall see an 
easy mode of understanding how the miracle was performed, 
and we shall see the entire applicability, both spiritually and 
philosophically, of the words which were spoken. 

Judges, xi. 30, 31. Jephthah’s vow. Infidels have made this 
narrative a ground of railing against the Bible, and Scripture 
expositors have been greatly embarrassed with it. Some of 
the latter maintain that the fair victim of what they regard 
as a rash vow, was actually put to death ; others contend that 
she was only devoted to a life of pious celibacy. Both parties, 
however, have shown that there is here no room for infidel 
scoffs, since, if such an execution was perpetrated, it was done 
in flagrant violation of the divine precepts, (Lev. xviii. 21 ; 
ch. xx. 2-5 ; Deut. xii. 29, 30, 31,) and only proved that this 
Judge of Israel was extremely ignorant of the Mosaic law, 
and if he only devoted her to the service of the tabernacle, he 
still displayed a want of knowledge of the Levitical code, in 
supposing that he “ could not go back” from his vow, there 
being an express provision that such vows might be com¬ 
muted. (Lev. xxvii. 1-8.) 

That there was no real sacrifice in the ease, the following 

*■> 

considerations have been adduced to show. How such a sacri¬ 
fice could be lawful, cannot be discerned, as the high-priest 
himself could not offer what he pleased for sacrifice, if it were 
not of that kind which God had appointed. If Jephthah was 
stained with the blood of his only child, it is not conceivable 
that his name would have been enrolled in the New Testa¬ 
ment, among the illustrious examples of faith and piety. 
Jephthah in his negotiations with the king of the Ammonites 
showed himself a man of justice and humanity, soundness of 
mind, strength of understanding and of argumentation, and 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


205 


accurate acquaintance with the laws and records of his na¬ 
tion. The last words of his vow in the Hebrew, will fairly 
admit of this rendering—“ Shall surely be consecrated to the 
Lord, or I will offer it a burnt-offering.” In making his vow, 
may he not be supposed to have imagined that, on his return, 
he might meet his flock of sheep or herd of goats, and that in 
this case his purpose was to offer a hecatomb of these ani¬ 
mals as a grateful oblation to God ; but that meeting his own 
daughter, and instantly remembering that the performance 
of his vow in causing her to spend her days in God's service, 
and exempt from the duties of a wife and mother, would dash 
his hope of posterity, this thought occasioned the mental dis¬ 
turbance expressed by rending his clothes. Can it be im¬ 
agined that the daughter, if she knew she was to be laid upon 
a flaming altar, would have coolly asked for two months, 
merely to bewail her virginity? If Jephthah could allow her 
two months, why not twenty years? If, when she returned 
to her father at the set time, and he sacrificed her, would the 
historian have gravely added, “And she knew no man?” 
Does not this clause show that the vow had its fulfilment in 
her continuing to the end of her days in celibacy? Would 
the virgins of Israel have gone to Jephthah’s daughter to 
“ comfort her four days in a year,” if she had been numbered 
with the dead ? 

1 Samuel, xxviii. 7-25. Saul and the witch of Endor. 
Henry thinks that the fallen angels might attend upon the 
call of a sorceress, and therefore takes it for granted, that an 
evil demon, raised by the arts of witchcraft, assumed the shape 
of Samuel; and, personating the prophet, answered the in¬ 
quiries of Saul. The profound silence of Scripture with re¬ 
spect to the manner of operation in effecting this, should teach 
us “ not to covet to know these depths of Satan, or the solu¬ 
tion of such mysteries of iniquity.” Some commentators con¬ 
sider the apparition of Samuel to Saul as a real miracle, pro* 
duced, not by the arts of sorcery, but by the finger of God. 

18 


206 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


Modern expositors have supposed, that as God overruled 
Balaam when seeking for enchantments, and compelled him 
to utter a true prophecy,—and as he sent a messenger of death 
to Ahaziah at the time when that prince was sending to in¬ 
quire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, so at the instant when 
Saul was appealing to a witch, the true Samuel was made to 
appear for his greater terror and punishment, by confirming 
the immediate execution of the sentence before passed upon 
him. 

2 Kings, xx. 11. The sun-dial of Ahaz . This miracle 
appears, at least in one point, to be even greater than that 
of Joshua, for whereas Joshua only commanded the sun to 
stand still, while the armies of the Lord fought against their 
adversaries, it would seem in this case as though the work of 
creation had been, so to speak, undone,—as though the earth 
had been turned back upon her axis, in order to testify the 
Lord’s favor towards one of his servants, so that the miracle 
appears to be greater in itself, and more wonderful in propor¬ 
tion to the less amount of cause for its exhibition. “As the 
miracle,” says one, “ specifies a particular sun-dial, and claims 
no other object than the satisfaction of Hezekiah’s mind by 
giving him “ a sign,” it may be held more in accordance with 
the importance of the case, that the miracle should have been 
wrought upon the sun-dial , and not upon the sun.” Be this 
as it may, (though we do not admit the view), “ it is not 
necessary for the understanding of the text, to suppose that 
either the sun or the earth changed its course ten degrees, or 
even one degree. The intervention of a light mass of vapor 
between the dial and the sun, would have refracted his beams 
sufficiently to bring back the shadow of the style ten degrees, 
measuring perhaps ten minutes, or even less. 

Psalms cxl. 10 ; cxxix. 6 ; cxliii. 12 ; lviii.; lix. Instances 
of what are called imprecations in Scripture. Some of these 
expressions might be rendered, with equal correctness, predic- 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


207 


tions of what shall be. If we take the severest sense, we must 
remember that David wrote them, not as a private man vent¬ 
ing his personal feelings, but as a judge pronouncing what 
God had authorized. Their crimes justly deserved these 
penalties, and the Psalmist, as the mouthpiece of God, faith¬ 
fully pronounced them. 

Psalm cx. 3. “ From the womb of the morning thou hast 

the dew of thy youth.” Thy progeny shall be numerous, and 
beautiful as the dew-drops of the morning. 

Psalm cxliv. 8. “A right hand of falsehood” The right 
hand was held up when taking an oath ; this means they were 
given to false swearing. 

Proverbs xxvi. 4, 5. “ Answer not a fool .Answer a 

fool.” Contend with a fool, yet reprove a fool. 

Ecclesiastes, i. 9. “ There is no new thing under the sun.” 

No new expedient found to make men happy. 

Ecclesiastes, vii. 16. “Be not righteous overmuch.” Un¬ 
derstood, satirically, to mean, if you would pass current 
with the world, a little religion will go a great way, and 
please them better than much. 

Ecclesiastes, vii. 17. “Be not overmuch wicked.” Satiri¬ 
cally, because you will not be tolerated in society if you ex¬ 
ceed certain excesses. 

Isaiah, xxii, 22. I will lay upon his shoulder the key of the 
house of David.” A large key, carried on the shoulder, was 
an ensign of authority. 

Isaiah, xliv. 20. “ Is there not a lie in my right handf” 

Have I not an idol (a lie) near me at all times ? 



208 SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 

Isaiah, xlv. 7. “ I form the light , and create darkness, 1 

make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. 
The Lord sends wars, pestilence, calamities, and other evil*, 
as punishments for national sins; it is in this, and not the 
sense of an originator of evil, that he is said to create evil. 


Isaiah, lxiii. 17. “ 0 Lord, why hast thou made us to err 

from thy ways, and hardened our hearts from thy fear V 1 
“ Why dost thou sutfer us to err from thy ways to harden our 
hearts from fear of thee?” 

Jeremiah, xx. 7. “ 0 Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was 
deceived.” The passage alludes to the encouragement God 
gave the prophet to take office, and critics have rendered it, 
“ Thou didst persuade me, and I was persuaded.” 

Ezekiel, xiv. 9. “ I, the Lord, have deceived that prophet.” 

I, Jehovah, have permitted that prophet to be deceived. 

Hosea, i. 2.“ Take unto thee a wife of whoredoms.” Emi¬ 
nent critics consider this as spoken in parabolic terms, to 
show the Jews the abomination of their idolatries. 

Matthew, iii. 4. “Locusts and wild honey.” A species 
of the grasshopper or locust, very common in the East, is 
still used there as an article of food, being dried, ground, and 
made up into bread. 

Matthew, iv. 8. “All the kingdoms of the world.” All 
the surrounding kingdoms, many of which could be seen from 
certain elevated spots in and about Judea. 

Matthew, x. 34. “ Think not that I am come to send peace 

on earth: I came not to send peace hut a sword.” This is not 
a contradiction of those passages that announce the Saviour 
as the Prince of Peace. The gospel may be the occasion of 
war, but in itself it is the cause of peace. Its holiness coming 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 209 

into collision with men’s sins—its denunciations of iniquity 
falling on those that love it—its rebuke of the most plausible 
hypocrisy, and its recognition of the least heart-felt desire “ to 
do justly and love mercy”—its enshrining the least seed of 
truth, and its indifference to the largest husk of ceremony, 
are calculated as soon as introduced into a fallen world, to 
rouse the resistance of wicked men. But such resistance is 
not the fruit of Christianity, but of corrupt human nature^ 
hating, and seeking to repel the approach of truth. 

Matthew, xii. 31. “ The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost 

shall not be forgiven unto men.” From the connection, it is 
generally inferred that the sin against the Holy Ghost was 
the ascribing the miracles of Christ to Satanic agency, which 
could only have been occasioned by a wilful and malignant 
opposition to Christ. When the same is manifested in oppo¬ 
sing the revelation of the Holy Spirit against the clearest and 
strongest convictions of conscience, the result is the same. 
But as unpardonable sin hardens the heart, where there is 
a spirit of deep contrition for sin against God, this sin cannot 
have been committed, though there may have been near ap¬ 
proaches to it. “ It shall not be forgiven him, neither in this 
world nor that which is to come,” is not to be understood of sin 
ever being forgiven in the next world, but is a strong expres¬ 
sion for, it shall never be forgiven. There has been a greater 
variety of opinions in regard to the sin against the Holy 
Ghost, than any other question within the range of theological 
discussion. Epiphanius believed it to be, “ villifying the 
Holy Ghost;” Hillary, “the denial of God in ChristCyril, 
“an unmeet expression of the Spirit;” Augustin, “final im¬ 
penitence;” Ambrose, “the blasphemy of infidelity;” Lyra, 
sinning maliciously against the truth;” Beza, “universal 
apostasy from God, by which the majesty of God is maliciously 
opposed;” Musculus, Bucer, Calvin, Piscator, “ opposition to 
the Word of God, while convinced of its Divine authority ;” 
Chrysostom, “ blasphemy in the face of miracles.” 

18 * 


210 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


Matthew, xvi. 18. “ Thou art Peter, and upon this rock 1 
will build my church Certainly not upon the feeble Peter 
who denied his Master: Peter’s name signified rock, and the 
words seem to mean, Thy name is rock, but upon another rock, 
upon myself, the sure foundation-stone, I will build my 
church. 

Matthew, xvi. 19. “ And I will give unto thee the keys of 
the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth 
shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on 
earth shall be loosed in heavenKeys signify authority, Isa. 
ix. 5; xxii. 22; Rev. iii. 7. The binding and loosing, as 
Lightfoot proves from Jewish writings, refers to instructions, 
doctrines, and not to persons, and the passage signifies the 
inspiration of the Apostles to confirm or reject doctrines and 
customs as the Spirit should teach them. 


Matthew, xiii. 12. “ Whosoever hath, to him shall be given, 
and he shall have moi'e abundance: but whosoever hath not, 
from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” One special 
gift of God to his people is an earnest of others; so that he who 
has faith and grace, shall receive further communications of 
knowledge, wisdom, holiness, and every blessing of salvation, 
till he has a great abundance, whereas he, who has not faith 
and grace, shall at last be deprived of all his other attainments 
and advantages, in which he trusted and gloried. 

He who hath considerable religious knowledge, and takes 
that care to improve it which men are observed to do with 
their wealth, will find it increase: while those who have but 
little, and manage it as the poor are often observed to do, will 
find it come to nothing. The little he had learned will slip 
out of his memory, he will be deprived of it, and in that 
sense it will be taken from him. God never intended that 
men should attain heavenly knowledge any more than earthly, 
without labor, pains, and attention. 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


211 


Mark, vi. 5. “ He could there do no mighty work.” Not 
that he had not power, for he did cure a few sick ; but the 
unbelief of the people prevented them from applying to him. 
See Matt. xiii. 58. 

Luke, xiv. 26. “ If any man come to me, and hate not his 
father and mother&c. The word “ hate” is used in Scrip¬ 
ture comparatively with love. Thus, it is stated, in Gen. 
xxix. 31, “ When the Lord saw that Leah was hated;” but 
this is explained in the preceding verse (v. 30), “he loved 
Rachel more than Leah “ hated,” in verse 31, is the “less 
loved” in verse 30. So, “ if any man hate not his father,” &c., 
must mean, “ If any man love his father above me, serve, or 
sacrifice, or suffer for an earthly relationship more than for 
me.” 

Luke, xvi. 9. “ Make to yourselves friends of the mammon 
of unrighteousness.” &c. Mammon was the heathen god of 
plenty. Mammon here means money: make friendship by a 
benevolent use of this, especially among the household of 
faith. 

Luke, xviii. 25. “ For it is easier for a camel to go through 
a needle’s eye,” dec. This proverbial expression will appear 
less strange, if we consider that doors in the East, at least 
those of the inclosures about their houses, were very low, 
so made as some defence against the sudden incursions of the 
mounted Arabs of the desert. Through these their camels 
were made to enter, kneeling, with considerable difficulty. 
So that, to force a camel through a doorway as small as the 
eye of a needle, came to be thought of. 

John, i. 21. “ Art thou Elias f And he saith, 1 am not . 
Art thou that 'prophet? And he answered, No.” John the 
Baptist was not literally the person of Elias, and it was pro¬ 
per for him to say he was not, in order to correct the gross 
notions of the Jews on that subject. Had he answered in 


212 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


the affirmative, he would have confirmed them in a gross 
falsehood. Yet John the Baptist was that Elias of whom the 
prophet Malachi spoke (chap. iv. 5); that is, as Luke ex¬ 
presses it, “ he came in the spirit and power of Elias” (chap, 
i. 17); and so was, as it were, another Elias. 

JofiN, v. 40. “Ye will not come to me that ye may have life :” 
also, Ezek. xviii. 31, “Why will we ye die?” If it be asked, 
why does not the Almighty do what he thus seems so much 
to desire? the answer is, God will not treat men as dead ma¬ 
chines, or as irrational and irresponsible creatures. He will 
not drive men to heaven by force. He draws with cords of 
love, and with hands of a man. He stands at the door of the 
human heart and knocks for admission. He will conciliate 
where he might coerce and command. 

John, xix. 14. “ And it was the preparation of the passover, 
and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews , Behold your 
king!” Mark says, Christ was crucified about the third 
hour. The word sixth, in the text, is thought by many emi¬ 
nent critics to be a mistake of some copyist, as a few old 
MSS. read third instead. Calvin, Grotius, and some others, 
think the two Evangelists adopted different modes of reckon¬ 
ing time, in one of which the day was divided into twelve 
hours, beginning at sunrise, and in the other of which it was 
divided into four parts, of three hours each, which would 
make the sixth and third coincide. Some think John fol¬ 
lowed a Romish custom of reckoning the hours from mid¬ 
night. 

John, xix. 34. “ But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced 
his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” It 
appears that the spear went through the pericardium and 
pierced the heart, and that the water proceeded from the for¬ 
mer, and the blood from the latter. 




SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


213 


John, xx. 29. “ Blessed are they that have not seen , and 

yet have believed:” also, Luke, x. 23, “ Blessed are the exjes 
which see the things which ye see” The former of c these pas¬ 
sages pronounces a blessing upon those who saw the fulfil¬ 
ment of what others have believed; the latter upon those 
who should believe the Gospel on the ground of their testi¬ 
mony, without having witnessed the facts with their own 
eyes. There is no contradiction in these blessings, for there 
is a wide difference between requiring sight as the ground of 
faith, which Thomas did, and obtaining it as a completion of 
faith, which those who saw the coming and kingdom of the 
Messiah did. The one was a species of unbelief, the other 
was faith terminating in vision. 

Acts, vii. 14. “ Then sent Joseph and coiled his father Ja¬ 
cob to him , and all his kindred, threescore and ffteen souls.” 
For explanation of this verse see subsequent chapter. 

Acts, xxii. 9. 11 And they that were with, me saw indeed the 
light, and were afraid, but they heard not the voice of him that 
spake to me” Acts, ix. 7. “ And the men which journeyed 

with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.” 
The statement in these two passages contains a variety, but 
no contrariety ; the former observing that the men “ heard a 
voice,” the latter, that “ they heard not the voice of him that 
spoke” to Saul. They heard a sound which terrified them, 
but did not understand the meaning, which Saul did. The 
one says that they “ saw the light,” the other that they “ saw 
no man.” In all this there is no inconsistency. 

Romans, v. 9. “ Justified by Christ: v. 1. “ Justified by 

faith.” James, ii. 24. “By works a man is justified.” The 
contradiction here is only apparent, not real. We are justi¬ 
fied by Christ, meritoriously; by faith, instrumentally; by 
works, declaratively. Christ's righteousness is the ground of 
our justification; faith is the medium or means by which 


214 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


that righteousness becomes ours, and a holy life is the visi¬ 
ble evidence of our acceptance with God, and title to happi¬ 
ness. 

Romans, vi. 17. “ But God be thanked , ye were servants of 

sin.” The original is often elliptical, and in such cases the 
deficiency should be supplied. “ Though ye were the servants 
of sin,” &c 

Romans, viii. 19. “ For the earnest expectation of the crea¬ 
ture waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God:” gene¬ 
rally understood to mean that, the whole visible creation 
waits anxiously for the time when the sons of God shall be 
manifested, and the earth and its creatures be restored to the 
primitive state of their creation. 

Romans, ix. 3. “ For 1 could wish that myself were ac¬ 

cursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to 
the flesh.” It would be absurd to suppose that the Apostle 
wished himself eternally cursed; but the language seems to 
intimate his willingness to die what was deemed an accursed 
death, such as Paul’s Lord endured, so that he could 
be the means of saving his countrymen. Compare Gal., 
iii. 13. 

Romans, ix. 18. “ Whom he will he hardeneth.” He suf- 
fereth to be hardened. 

Romans, ix. 22. “ What if God, willing to show his wrath,” 
i&c. He may show his wrath in punishing the guilty without 
any impeachment of his justice. “ Vessels of wrath fitted for 
destruction.” Not fitted by God, but by themselves, by their 
own sins. “Vessels of mercy:” made meet for heaven by 
Divine grace. 

1 Corinthians, x. 33. “ I please all men in all things 
Galatians, i. 10. “ If I yet please men , I should not be the 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


216 


set'vant of Christ .” The former is that sweet inoffensiveness 
of spirifc which teaches us to lay aside all self-will and self- 
importance ; that charity which “ seeketh not her own,” and 
“is not easily provoked.” The latter spirit referred to, is 
that sordid compliance with the corruptions of human nature, 
of which flatterers and deceivers have always availed them¬ 
selves, not for the glory of God or the good of men, but for 
the promotion of their owu selfish designs. 

1 Corinthians, xi. 27. “ Guilty of the body and blood of 

the Lord.” Liable to the punishment due to those who “ dis¬ 
honor the symbols of the Lord’s body and blood.” 

1 Corinthians, xv. 29. “ Baptized for the dead” means 

here, in the room of, filling up the places of the dead who 
have fallen by martyrdom, or otherwise died in the faith of 
the same Lord. 

2 Corinthians, xii. 16. “ Nevertheless, being crafty , 1 
caught you with guile.” The Apostle clearly uses the lan¬ 
guage or charge of an accuser. He does not confess the 
truth of the charge of craftiness, but concedes it so far only 
as to turn the point against his accuser. 

Hebrews, vi. 46. “ For it is impossible for those who were 
once enlightened,” &c. Nothing is impossible with God ; but 
God works by means, and the persons here alluded to are 
confirmed apostates, who, having abandoned forever all the 
means of grace, have cut themselves off from all the hopes of 
glory. 

Hebrews, vii. 3. “Withoutfather, without mother, without 
descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” 
Melchisedec is here taken as a type of Christ, from certain 
peculiarities respecting him. He was “ without recorded fa¬ 
ther, without recorded mother, without priestly pedigree,” 
either by father or mother’s side; nor have we any account 


216 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 

of the beginning of his days, or of the end of his life and 
ministry. 

Hebrews, xi. 33 ; xi. 39. “ Who, through faith, obtained 
promises.” “ And these all received not the promise.” The 
“ promises” referred to, are those which were fulfilled during 
the Old Testament Dispensation. The “promise’' mentioned 
was that of the coming of the Messiah, in the faith of which 
the fathers lived and died, but saw not its accomplishment. 

Hebrews, xii. 17. “ For he found no place of repentance, 

though besought it carefully with tears.” No place for repent¬ 
ance in his father’s mind. Such as wilfully renounce Chris¬ 
tianity will find no place for repentance in God, who has 
connected apostasy with ruin, though no true penitent ever 
sought mercy in vain. 

James, ii. 10. “ He that ojfendeth in one point is guilty of 

all.” The divine law tolerates sin in no respect, and in no 
instance. The man who violates it in one particular, shows 
that there is in him the spirit of disobedience. The angels 
only sinned once. It was by one offence that Adam incurred 
the penalty of death. 

1 Peter, iii. 19, 20. “He went and preached unto the spirits 
in prison .” Not in prison in Noah’s days, But shut up for 
their unbelief in the prison of darkness, when the Apostle 
wrote about them. 

1 John, v. 16. “ There is a sin unto death, I do not say 

that he shall pray for it.” The sie of malicious anbelief, 
showing itself by speaking evil of the miraculous works of 
the Spirit, as the Jews did, apostatizing from the truth, and 
final impenitence. 

Jude, 9. “Yet Michael the archangel , when contending with 
the devil he disputed about the body of Moses.” There are 


* 


SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES. 


217 


several conjectures respecting this passage, but that which 
seems most likely, is that Satan would fain have prevented 
the interment of the body of Moses, that its exposure might 
lead the Israelites to pay divine honors to it, from their 
strong propensity to idolatry. 

Revelations, ii. 17. “ To him that overcometh, will I 

give a while stone” &c. It was a custom among the an¬ 
cients to give their votes by white or black stones: with these 
they condemned the guilty, with those they acquitted the in¬ 
nocent. In allusion to this ancient custom, our Lord promi¬ 
ses to give the spiritual conqueror the white stone of absolu¬ 
tion or approbation ; and inseparably connected with it a 
new name of dignity and honor, even that of a child of God, 
and heir of glory, which is known only to himself, or the 
inhabitants of that world to which he shall be admitted, and 
who have already received it. 


19 



THE FLOOD. 

Gen. tiii.—a. m. 1656 . b. c. 2293 . 


“ And now, the thickening sky, 

Lie.1 a dark ceiling stood, down rushed the rain 
Impetuous, and continued till the earth 
No more was seen. The floating vessel swam 
Uplifted, and secure, with beaked prow, 

Rode tilting o’er the waves: all dwellings else 
Flood-overwhelmed, and them, with all their pomp. 

Deep under water rolled; sea covered sea, 

Sea without shore : and in their palaces, 

Where luxury late reigned, sea monsters whelped 
And stabled. . Of mankind, so numerous late, 

All left in one small bottom swam imbarked.” 

“ In all pursuits,” says an amiable philosopher, “ I think it 
is better to be wholly ignorant and unskilled, than half-learn¬ 
ed and half-expert. Philosophy, too, they say, it is better 
never to have touched, than to have but partially tasted, inas¬ 
much as those become most malicious, who, pausing in the 
porch of science, turn away without proceeding further.” 
Nothing has proved the accuracy of these observations so well 
as the connexion between the natural sciences and revealed 
religion. It has been the malice of superficial men, who had 
not patience or courage to penetrate into the sanctuary of na¬ 
ture, that has suggested objections from her laws, against 

218 



THE FLOOD. 


219 


truths revealed. Had they boldly advanced, they would have 
discovered, as in the cavern-temples of India and Idumea, 
that the depths -which serve to conceal her darkest mysteries, 
may the soonest be changed into the fittest places for profound 
adoration/ 7 

In reference to the Scripture history of the deluge, in par¬ 
ticular, men have been led to cherish incredulity by being in 
that middle state between ignorance and knowledge, which, 
aside from a natural distaste for its truths, is the most dang¬ 
erous enemy of religion. They have thus exemplified the 
poet’s sentiments: 

“A little learning is a dangerous thing. 

Drink deep , or taste not the Pierian spring 
There shalloio draughts intoxicate the brain, 

And drinking largely sobers us again.” 


To express the same general sentiment in the words of in¬ 
spiration itself; professing themselves wise, they become fools, 
and change the truth of God into a lie. 

To all the arguments urged aginst an universal deluge, it 
is sufficient, on the principle, “ Let God be true, and every 
man a liar, 77 to oppose the plain declarations of Scripture. 
Other proofs, however, lying within our reach, may properly 
be referred to, and out of the great abundance which exists, 
we must, from due regard to our limits, necessarily confine 
ourselves to a very succinct statement of only a few. 

“We are acquainted, 77 says a forcible writer, “with no an¬ 
cient people who were without traditions of this great event. 
From Josephus we learn that Berosus, a Chaldean historian, 
whose works are now lost, related the same things as Moses 
of the deluge, and the preservation of Noah in an ark. Eu¬ 
sebius informs us that the history of the flood was contained 
in the works of Abydenus, an Assyrian writer. Lucian, the 
Greek writer, says that the present is not the original race of 
men, but is descended from Deucalion, who was preserved in 


220 


THE FLOOD. 


an ark from the universal deluge which destroyed men for 
their wickedness. Varro, the Roman writer, divided time 
into three periods, the first from the origin of men to the 
deluge. The Hindoo purannas contain the history of the 
deluge, and of Noah under the name of Satyavrata. They 
relate that Satyavrata was miraculously preserved in an ark 
from a deluge which destroyed all mankind.” The writer 
first quoted, adds, “ that the whole of our globe has been sub¬ 
merged by the ocean is proved, not by tradition only, but by 
its mineralogical and fossil history. On the summits of high 
mountains, and in the centres of continents, vast beds of 
shells and other marine productions are to be found. Petri¬ 
fied fishes and sea-weed exist in the heart of quarries. The 
vegetable and animal productions of the torrid zone have 
been dug up in the coldest regions, as Siberia, and, vice versa , 
the productions of the polar regions have been found in 
warm climates. These facts are unanswerable proofs of a 
deluge.”* 

The length of the ark was “ three hundred cubits.” Some 
doubt has existed as to the kind of cubit here alluded to, 
whether it were the common cubit of eighteen inches, or the 
cubit of about three inches longer. But taking, says Bush, 
the shortest of the two, it is capable of demonstration that it 
must have been of the burden of 43,413 tons. Now, a first 
rate man-of-war is between 2200 and 2300 tons; the ark con 
sequently possessed a capacity of storage equal to that of 
eighteen ships of the line of the largest elass, which, upon a 
very moderate computation, are capable of carrying 20,000 
men, with stores and provisions for six months’ consumption, 
besides 1800 pieces of cannon. As all the various distinct 
species of four-footed animals may be reduced, according to 
Buffon, to two hundred or two hundred and fifty, it cannot 

* The reader wishing to pursue this subject further, will be greatly 
aided by reference to the sixth of Dr. Wiseman’s “ Twelve Lectures on 
the connection between Science and Revealed Religion.”—Gould and 
Newman. 


THE FLOOD. 


221 


for a moment be doubted, that the ark would contain the spe¬ 
cified proportion of these, of birds, insects, and eight human 
beings, with the requisite supplies of food for a year. “ Indeed, 
the truth is,” observes Bishop Wilkins, “that of the two, it is 
much more difficult to assign a number and bulk of creatures 
necessary to answer the capacity of the ark, than to find suf¬ 
ficient room for the several species of animals already known 
to have been there. The objection, therefore, sometimes 
urged, that the ark was incapable of affording accommodation 
to its alleged inmates, falls to the ground.” 

As to the universality of the deluge, there is no room for 
doubt. Everything goes to prove, that, as Moses tells us, the 
waters covered the whole earth. If the waters had only over¬ 
flowed the neighborhood of the Euphrates and the Tigris, 
they could not be fifteen cubits above the highest mountains, 
there was no rising to that height without spreading them¬ 
selves, by the laws of gravity, over the rest of the earth, unless, 
perhaps, they had been retained there by a miracle, in which 
case, no doubt, Moses would have related the miracle, as he 
did that of the waters of the Red Sea, &c. It may also be 
observed, that in the regions far remote from the Euphrates and 
Tigris, viz.: Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, England, 
the United States, &c., there are frequently found, in places 
many scores of miles from the sea, and even on the tops of 
high mountains, whole trees sunk deep under ground, also 
teeth and bones of animals, fishes entire, sea-shells, ears of 
corn, &c., petrified, which the best naturalists are agreed 
could never have come there but by the deluge. The icy 
masses of the polar regions, the river-banks, and the plains of 
Siberia, the loftiest mountains of the globe, the Andes of 
America, the Himalayas of Asia, all contain their relics. Hum¬ 
boldt found an enormous quantity of marine substances on 
the Andes, at the height of more than fourteen thousand feet 
above the level of the ocean. Beds of shells were found at 
Touraine, in France, twenty-seven miles in length and eigh¬ 
teen feet in depth, and others between South Carolina and 

19 * 


222 


THE FLOOD. 


Mississippi, stretching along an extent of six hundred miles. 
The skeleton of a whale was discovered on Mount Sandhorn, 
in Norway, at the elevation of more than three thousand feet, 
and a portion of another in Stappen, in Finmark, about eight 
hundred feet above high-water mark. The bones of elephants 
were found by Humboldt near Bogota, in South America, 
about seven thousand eight hundred feet above the level of 
the sea; and others were obtained by him from a place on 
the Andes, about two degrees of latitude from Quito and 
Chili. In the Royal College of Surgeons, London, are de¬ 
posited the bones of deer and horses, found in masses, which 
descended with the avalanches from an elevation on the Hima¬ 
laya mountains, computed at sixteen thousand feet above the 
ocean, to which, of course, with its rugged way, and region 
of eternal snow, these animals could never have ascended. 
So, too, the remains of the elephantine race have been dis¬ 
covered in great numbers in England, Italy, and Germany, 
and in the United States. They have been found in the State 
of New York, on the banks of the Ohio river, and in various 
points of the valley of the Mississippi. 

Not to prolong this detail, I call attention to the vast deserts 
of the earth, those oceans of sands in Africa, in Persia, in 
Arabia, in America,—hundreds, and some of them thousands 
of miles in extent. The desert of Sahara, says Fairholme, is 
between two thousand and three thousand miles long, and 
seven hundred miles broad. The great salt desert of Persia 
is seven hundred miles broad. The plains of South America, 
and of Hungary, in Europe, are truly vast in their dimen¬ 
sions. In the extensive low plains of Carolina, marks of the 
former occupation of the sea are everywhere displayed. Ex¬ 
tensive beds of oyster-shells are found at considerable depths, 
alternating with strata of blue clay. Pure sea sand is the 
prevailing soil of the deserts of Africa. The desert of Sahara 
contains wells of brackish waters. Rounded pebbles are found 
at their bottom. A traveller, M. Caillik, says of this desert, 
'‘the plains had the precise appearance of the ocean, perhaps, 


THE FLOOD. 


223 


such as the bed of the sea would have if left dry by the 
waters.” The plain of the Crimea abounds in salt lakes and 
marshes. Petrifactions and marine remains are everywhere 
found in great abundance. 

The distinguished Cuvier, in his works, remarks, “ If there 
be anything demonstrated in geology, it is, that the surface 
of our globe has been the victim of a great and sudden revo¬ 
lution, of which the date cannot go back much further than 
five or six thousand years;” and this has been the opinion of 
many eminent scientific men. 

The deluge must, undoubtedly, be considered an altogether 
miraculous and supernatural event, sent as a punishment to 
men for the corruption then in the world; but it is at the same 
time interesting to notice how infidelity has lost, and is losing 
the aid of philosophy in framing objections to it. Keill 
formerly computed that twenty-eight oceans would be neces¬ 
sary to overflow the highest mountains to the height given by 
Moses ; but we are now informed “ that a further progress in 
mathematical and physical knowledge has shown the different 
seas and oceans to contain, at least, forty-eight times more 
water than they were then supposed to do, and that the mere 
raising of the temperature of the whole body of the ocean to 
a degree no greater than marine animals live in, in the shal¬ 
low seas between the tropics, would so expand it as more than 
to produce the height above the mountains stated in the 
Mosaic account.” 



/ 


THE TOWER OF BABEL. 


Gen. x. 10. 

This famous tower received its name from the fact that, 
when it was building, God confounded the languages of 
those who were engaged in the undertaking, about a. m. 
1775, one hundred and twenty years after the deluge. It 
was designed by those who erected it, to serve as a national 
rallying-point, and thus to secure their union, and concentrate 
their feelings and interests, as well as to prevent their disper¬ 
sion. It is also more than probable that it was intended as a 
place of worship, but not of the true God. 

We find frequent allusions to this structure in ancient his* 
tory. Herodotus and Strabo, both assert that there was a 
tower built in Chaldea, called the Tower of Belus, and that 
there were walks upon it, along which two chariots could 
drive abreast. Abydenus, as quoted by Eusebius, thus 
writes:—“There are, who relate, that the first men, born of 
the earth, (giants,) when they grew proud of their strength 
and stature, supposing that they were more excellent than 
the gods, wickedly attempted to build a tower where Babylon 
now stands. But the work advancing towards heaven, was 
overthrown upon the builders by the gods, with the assistance 
of the winds, and the name Babylon was imposed upon the 
ruins. Till that period men were of one language, but then 
the gods sent among them a diversity of tongues. And then 
commenced the war between Saturn and Titan.” Eupolemus, 
as cited by Alexander Polyhister, affirms, “ that the city of 
Babylon was built by giants who escaped from the flood, that 
these giants built the most famous tower in all history, and 

224 




TOWER OF BABEL. 


225 


that the tower was dashed to pieces by the almighty power 
of God, and the giants dispersed and scattered over the face 
of the whole earth.” Josephus quotes from one of the 
Sybilline oracles, the following words, “ When all mankind 
spoke the same language, some of them elevated a tower im¬ 
mensely high, as if they would ascend up into heaven, but the 
gods sent a wind and overthrew the tower, and assigned to 
each a particular language, and hence the city of Babylon 
derived its name.” 

It is the opinion of many that the tower described by Hero 
dotus, as we have already seen, and which stood in the midst 
of Babylon, and was dedicated to the god Belus, was the 
Tower of Babel, re-edified from its ruins and freshly adorned 
by Nebuchadnezzar, the second founder of that far-famed city. 

“ Whether any traces now remain of this prodigious struc¬ 
ture,” says Professor Bush, “ and if so, where they are to be 
sought for, is a question of somewhat difficult solution. 
Three distinct masses of ruin in the region of Babylon have 
been claimed by different writers as entitled to this distinc¬ 
tion, viz., Nimrod’s Tower at Akkerkoof, the Mvjelibee about 
950 yards east of the Euphrates, and five miles above the 
modern town of Hillah, and the Birs Nemroud to the west of 
that river, and about six miles to the south-east of Hillah. 
Niebuhr, Porter, and Rosenmiiller concur with the traditions 
of the country in fixing upon the latter as the probable site 
of this earliest great work of man.” 


/- 


GENEALOGICAL LIST OF JACOB’S FAMILY. 

Genesis, xlvi. 8, 27. 

It has been often objected by infidels that the genealogical 
list of Jacob’s family, as given in these verses, is inconsistent 
with itself and Stephen’s statement, in Acts, vii. 14. Let us 
look at these supposed discrepancies and we shall see that 
they can all be reconciled:— 

1. In terse 27, the aggregate is stated at “ threescore ana 
ten ” (70). 

2. In verse 26, “ threescore and six ,” (66). 

3. In Acts, vii. 14, “ threescore and fifteen,” (75). 

In each of these cases the most precise phraseology is used 
tp describe the persons intended to be included. 

1 . Yerse 8 . “These are the names of the children of Is¬ 
rael which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons” Thus, 


Jacob himself is here included. 

' Jacob . 1 

Reuben —Hanoch, Pallu, Ilezron, Carmi. 5 

Simeon —Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, 

Shaul. 7 

Levi —Gershon, Kohath, Merari. 4 

Leah. Judah — Ez, Onan, Shelah, Pharez, Zarah. 

(Sons of Pharez) Ilezron, Hamul, Ez and 

Onan died in Canaan, not included. 6 

Issachar —Tola, Puvah, Job, Shimron. 5 

Zebulon —Sered, Elon, Jahleel. 4 

l Dinah —(Jacob’s daughter, Gen. xxx. 21).... 1 


226 


33 











JACOB’S FAMILY. 227 

Brought forward.33 


Verse 15. “ These be the sons of Leah, which she bare 

unto Jacob in Padan-aram, with his daughter Dinah; all 
the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and 


three, (33). 

f Gad — Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Ezi, 

j Arodi, Areli. 8 

Zilpah. -j Asher —Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, Serah 
1 (their sister), (sons of Beriah) Heber, Mal- 
[ chiel. 8 

Verse 18. “These are the sons of Zilpah, and these 
bare unto Jacob, sixteen souls,” (16). 

f Joseph —Manasseh, Ephraim. 3 

Benjamin— Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naa- 


f man, Ehi, Bosh, Muppim, Huppim, Ard... 11 
Verse 22. “These are the sons of Rachel, which were 


born unto Jacob. All the souls were fourteen,” (14). 

Bilkah. { Dan —Hushim... 2 

i. Naphtali —Jahleel, Guni, Jezer, Shillem... <. 5 

Verse 25. “ These are the sons of Bilkah, and she bare 

these unto Jacob ; all the souls were seven,” (7). - 

Total. 70 


Mark the precision of the language used (verse 27): “All 
the souls of the house (or family) of Jacob, which came into 
Egypt, were threescore and ten” 

But, in verse 26, “ All the souls that came with Jacoby 
which came out of his loins, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, all 
the souls were threescore and six.” 

Now, observe, this last number includes only Jacob’s 
lineal descendants , and of them, none but those “ who came 
with him into Egypt.” Therefore, Joseph and his two sons, 
who were already in Egypt, and Jacob himself (woo did not 
“come out of his own loins,”) must be deducted f'-om the 
preceding total, and leaves precisely threescore and six. 









s 


228 jaccb’s family. 

Again, Stephen says, in Acts, vii. 14, “Then sent Joseph 
and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, three - 
score and fifteen souls ” 

This number evidently includes “Jacob's sons' wives," for 
they were “ of his kindred," and were expressly sent for. 
Gen. xlv. 18, 19. How many of them were then living in 
Canaan we have no means of determining. Joseph's wife 
was already in Egjpt; Judah's wife, we are informed, was 
dead (Gen. xxxviii. 12), and probably others. If, then, to 
the previous number of sixty-six we add nine, we have the 
exact number stated by Stephen—seventy-five (threescore and 
fifteen). 




DESTRUCTION OF THE CANAANITES. 


Joshua, x. 40 


On the rigorous treatment of the nations of Canaan to which 
infidels and Deists have taken so many exceptions, the follow¬ 
ing facts and arguments challenge consideration: —These na- 
tions were impious and profligate in a more than ordinary de¬ 
gree. We have proof of this in Leviticus, ch. xviii. 24th, 
and following verses. They polluted and stained the land 
with abominable crimes, and these crimes or detestable prac¬ 
tices were general among them. They were customs which 
were committed. They were also abominations done unto 
their gods. Now, it was for these odious and brutal vices 
which defiled the land, that the people were destroyed — 
“ therefore , I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it.” Nor did 
this visitation occur until those nations had time, and were 
urged to repent, and their wickedness had reached such a 
height that it was no longer to be endured. This is plainly 
inferrible from Genesis, xv. where God tells Abraham, 
that his descendants of the fourth generation should return 
into that country, and not before,—and then adds, “ for the 
iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full,”—which more than 
seems to indicate that, as long as their crimes were confined 
within any bounds, they were permitted to remain in their 
country. 

If then the divine government is moral, and if vice ever 
deserves punishment, most justly was punishment inflicted 
on the Canaanites. And, hence it follows, that the destruc¬ 
tion of these nations immediately by God, is no more a proof 
20 229 


/ 


230 DESTRUCTION OF THE CANAANITES. 


that the Bible which records this event, is not the inspiration 
of God, than the destruction of nations by the sword of the 
conqueror, or by the breath of pestilence, is proof that there 
is no God in heaven, and that there is no moral government 
of the earth. This destruction, as an act of exemplary penal 
justice, was entirely consistent with the character of the 
Moral Governor of the Universe, and if God had effected it 
by an earthquake, burying the people under the ruins of their 
dwellings, no one would have thought that he dealt unjustly 
with them. Frequently do we see juries in our own country 
bringing in a verdict of guilty, the judge pronouncing sen¬ 
tence of death, and that sentence executed, and yet no one 
complains that there is anything wrong or unjust in the act. 

Not only, however, may this event be regarded as one of 
equity to the guilty, but also mercy to the innocent. If the 
contagion of vice is more deadly in its results than the con¬ 
tagion of disease, and if, to arrest the latter, it is a beneficent 
act to interdict all communication between an infected city 
and the surrounding country, though the consequence may be 
the death of most of its inhabitants, then was it an act of 
goodness on the part of the Supreme Disposer, entirely to cut 
off a nation which set examples of the most flagitious crimi¬ 
nality to all around, and all whose posterity (surely we may 
allow Divine Omniscience to know this) would only have grown 
up to add inhabitants to the world of darkness. “ I am fond,” 
says Bishop Watson, “of considering the goodness of God as 
the leading principle of his conduct towards mankind, of con¬ 
sidering his justice as subservient to his mercy. He pun¬ 
ishes individuals and nations with the rod of his wrath ; but I 
am persuaded that all his punishments originate in his abhor¬ 
rence of sin, are calculated to lessen its influence, and are 
proof of his goodness, inasmuch as it may not be possible for 
Omnipotence itself to communicate supreme happiness to the 
human race, whilst they continue servants of sin. The de¬ 
struction of the Canaanites exhibits to all nations, in all ages. 


DESTRUCTION OF THE CANAANITES. 23l 


a signal proof of God’s displeasure against sin ; it has been to 
others, and it is to ourselves, a benevolent warning.” 

To the objection urged, that the destruction of the Canaan- 
ites confounded the innocent with the guilty, a satisfactory reply 
may be given. It is to be recollected, that, if a man is immor¬ 
tal, the death of the body is by no means the greatest calamity 
which can befall him : it is even reasonable to believe, what 
the Scriptures intimate, that death is often a kind dispensa¬ 
tion; that, among the wicked, they are sometimes removed 
“ in whom there is found some good thing towards the Lord 
God of Israel,” * and that “ the righteous is taken away from 
the evil to come.”f It were as reasonable then to blaspheme 
the Divine Power which suffered Herculaneum to be over¬ 
flowed with burning lava, Lisbon to be swallowed up by an 
earthquake, and the Caribs, and other nations of the West 
Indies, to be exterminated by the Spaniards, and which per¬ 
mits thousands of persons to be annually destroyed in Bar¬ 
bary and Turkey by the plague, and a third part of the 
human race to perish in infancy, as to revile the Divine Word, 
in which is recorded the destruction of the Canaanites by the 
sword of the children of Israel. Surely, if we would deny 
the God of Scripture for sanctioning the extirpation of a most 
abandoned nation, we must deny the God of nature for per¬ 
mitting such multitudes, not only of the wicked, but of the 
good, to perish by war and murder, by shipwreck and famine, 
by the convulsions of nature and the visitations of disease. 

As to the mode of the punishment in question, it may be 
observed that there was a fitness in making the Israelites the 
instruments, because having witnessed the sufferings of the 
Canaanites, and knowing the cause of them, they would be 
more effectually restrained from imitating their abominable 
practices. Besides, as the people of those ages were affected 
by no proof of the power of the gods which they worshipped, 
so deeply, as by giving them victory in war; there was a pro¬ 
priety in ordering that the extermination of the Canaanites, 

* 1 Kings xiv. 13. t Isa. lvii. 1. 


*232 DESTRUCTION OF THE CANAANITES. 

which might have been accomplished by a pestilence, by fire, 
or by earthquakes, should be effected by the Israelites, as 
mere instruments in the hands of a righteous Providence, in* 
asmuch as this was the clearest and most intelligible method 
sf displaying the power and righteousness of the God of 
[srael, his power over the pretended gods of other nations, 
and his righteous hatred of the crimes into which they had 
fallen. 


DEMONIACAL POSSESSION. 

Matthew viii. 28, 34. 

This subject has given rise to much discussion. One class 
of writers have supposed that the possessions mentioned in 
the Gospels, were real operations of devils; others, that they 
were nothing more than natural causes and effects, and were 
such diseases as are incident to men, but only with different 
names. / 

The cases in the New Testament, of which these different 
views have been taken, are as follows:— 

f Matt. viii. 28, 34. 

1. That of the Gadarene demoniacs. ■< Mark, v. 1, 20. 

( Luke, viii. 26, 39. 

2. That in the synagogue at Caper- f Mark, i. 23, 26. 

naum. 1 Luke, iv. 33, 6. 

3. That of the woman with a spirit of infirmity.—Luke, 
xiii. 10, 17. 

4. That of the daughter of the Syro- f Matt. xv. 21, 28. 

Phoenician woman. 1 Mark, vii. 24, 30. 

f M*tt. xvii. 14, 21. 

5. That of the lunatic child. -< Mark, ix. 14, 29. 

(Luke, ix. 37, 42. 

In support of the common, simple, and ancient interpreta¬ 
tion of these cases, notwithstanding all the difficulties which 
may seem to attach to it, viz: that the demoniacs mentioned 
were not merely madmen, but that their bodies were actually 
possessed, controlled, governed, and inhabited by wicked and 
impure spirits; the following arguments may be adduced : 

Even admitting that the word demons generally signifies, 

20 * 233 


284 


DEMONIACAL POSSESSION. 


in the classics, and occasionally in the Scriptures, the soul 
of a dead person, yet almost uniformly throughout the New 
Testament, the signification of the word is so clear, that there 
can be no doubt it is rightly translated devils. Thus, the 
text, (James, ii. 19), “ The demons believe and tremble,” 
cannot with propriety be applied to any other beings, nor 
well admit of any other translation than, “ the devils believe 
and tremble.” Thus, too, in the Gospels, the same beings 
that are named demons , are named also spirits, and unclean 
spirits, and evil and wicked spirits. Matt. xii. 43, 45 ; x. 1; 
viii. 10; xvii. 18. Luke, xi. 24, 26 ; iv. 33, &c.; ix. 1; iv. 
41; ix. 42. Mark, i. 23 ; iii. 11; ix. 25, 26. From these in¬ 
stances it is evident that demons and spirits, and foul and 
unclean spirits , and evil and wicked spirits are synonymous 
terms. It further appears that demons are beings of the 
same kind, of the same nature as Satan and Beelzebub, the 
prince or chief of the demons. Thus, for example, Jesus rea¬ 
soned, when accused of casting out demons by Beelzebub, 
the prince or chief of the demons (Matt. xiii. 22, 32 ; Mark, iii. 
22, 30; Luke, xi. 14, 26)—showing that casting out demons 
by Beelzebub is the same as basting out demons by Satan, 
and that Satan’s casting out demons is casting out himself. 
When the seventy returned to our Saviour (Luke, x. 17, 18), 
“ saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us, through 
Thy name,” He considered the fall of demons as the fall of 
Satan: “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” 
Peter also spoke of the demoniacs under the name and no¬ 
tion of u oppressed with the devil,” when he told Cornelius 
the centurion (Acts, x. 38), “how God anointed Jesus of 
Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went 
about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the 
devil, for God was with him.” 

That the possessions in question were not mere diseases . 
such as epilepsy, mania, and melancholy, we think it impos¬ 
sible to deny. There was, no doubt, says Trench, a substra¬ 
tum of disease, which, in many cases, helped to lay open to 


DEMONIACAL POSSESSION. 


235 


the deeper evil, and upon which it was superinduced ; and in 
agreement with this view, we may observe, that cases of pos¬ 
session are at once classed with those of various sicknesses, 
and at the same time distinguished from them by the Evan¬ 
gelists, who thus, at once, mark the relation and the diffe¬ 
rence. But the scheme which confounds these cases with 
those of disease, does not, as I think every reverent handler 
of God's word must own, exhaust tho matter ; it cannot be 
taken as a satisfying solution, and this for more reasons than 
one. 

First among these reasons is the distinction, just referred 
to as having been drawn between demoniacal possessions in 
the New Testament, and mania, or maladies of various sorts 
and degrees of intensity. In Matt. viii. 16, a distinction is 
made between curing diseases and casting out devils : “ When 
the even was come, they brought unto him many that were 
oppressed with devils, and he cast out the spirits with his 
word, and healed all that were sick." In Matt. iv. 24, it is 
said, “ And his fame went throughout all Syria, and they 
brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers 
diseases and torments (that is, one class of afflicted beings ; 
then here is another class), and those which were possessed 
with devils ; (there is a third class), and those which were 
lunatic." There is also a distinetion drawn by Luke (who 
was himself a physician, and able to distinguish natural dis¬ 
eases from other affections), between healing and casting out , 
as well as between diseases and devils (iv. 40, 41). “Now 
when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with 
divers diseases, brought them unto him, and he laid his 
hands on every one of them, and healed them. And devils 
also came out of many, crying out and saying, Thou art 
Christ the Son of God." Now, though common diseases, such 
as palsy, leprosy, and the like, are said to be cleansed and 
healed , when is it, or how could it be said, that they are cast 
out , and that they come out crying and saying anything ! 

In the next place, the language of our Lord was such as to 


236 


DEMONIACAL POSSESSION. 


show that demoniacs were not persons merely of disordered 
intellects, but subjects of an alien spiritual might. When 
the Jews charged him “ with having a devil,” why did He 
not, instead of denying and disproving the charge, adopt what 
would (on the theory now opposed) have been a shorter and 
surer method, and say that there was no such thing as having 
a devil f In like manner when the Pharisees accused him 
(Matt. xii. 24) off “ casting out devils by the prince of the 
devils,” why did he not at once deny the possibility of such 
a thing as was charged against him, instead of admitting the 
truth of his casting out devils, and only exposing the unrea¬ 
sonableness of imputing it to the prince of the devils? Be¬ 
sides, our Saviour, as often as he approached the person that 
was possessed with a demon, gave the command, “ Hold thy 
peace, and come out of him.” (Luke, iv. 35; Mark, i. 25). 
Now, -what reason or propriety could there be in such a com¬ 
mand, if there were no spirits to come out, and only some 
diseases to be cured? How could a mere physical distemper 
be thus addressed ? 

I know it has been replied to this inquiry, that Jesus fell 
into and humored the notions of the afflicted in order to 
facilitate their curebut this reply falls to the ground in 
view of the fact that, in his most confidential discourses with 
his disciples he uses exactly the same language, as, for ex¬ 
ample, in Matt. x. 8, and especially xvii. 21, where he says, 
“ This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” An 
equally satisfactory answer may be given to the allegation of 
Strauss, and other infidels of the same rationalistic school in 
Germany, that, in speaking of demoniacal possessions, our 
Saviour expressed himself in a figurative manner, or accom¬ 
modated his language to the popular and prevailing notions 
of the people among whom he sojourned. Such an accom¬ 
modation as this cannot for a moment be reconciled with the 
character of such a teacher as Jesus, who flattered no popular 
prejudices; who was not only the truth-speaker, but the 
truth itself; and who came into our world not to make a lie 


DEMONIACAL POSSESSION. 


237 


the basis of his mission, but to put an end to all deceptions, 
to all hypocrisies, to all falsehoods, and to establish supreme, 
in each man’s heart, and ultimately in the world itself, the 
sovereignty of pure truth, and of perfect righteousness. All 
the ideas which we can have of the man Christ Jesus, compel 
us to believe that he would not have used languaga which 
would have upheld and confirmed so great and mischievous 
an error in the minds of men, as the supposition of Satanic 
influence, which did not in truth exist. So, too, on the very 
same principle on which the various assertions in the New 
Testament in relation to this subject are, as is alleged, to be 
considered as figures of speech, we might, and perhaps would 
have to, in regard to consistency, explain away everything 
else we cannot understand, thus coming into such a state of 
uncertainty as to know not what to believe or reject; and as 
to be unable to decide whether all narrations of a miraculous 
nature, and probably all the doctrines of the Son of God, are 
not to be understood in the same figurative way. 

A third reason why the demoniacs cannot be regarded as 
only diseased persons, and especially madmen and lunatics, 
is the fact that they were so much better and so much earlier 
acquainted with our Lord’s true character and office than the 
generality of the people were. Though his fame went abroad, 
his real state and condition were little known and under¬ 
stood, while we find the demoniacs publicly proclaiming him 
to be “ the Christ, the Holy One of God, the Son of the Most 
High God.” He had but recently entered on his ministry, 
when, according to Mark, i. 23, 24, “ there was in the syna¬ 
gogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, saying, 
Let us alone, what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of 
Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who 
thou art, the Holy One of God.” And, according to Luke, 
iv. 41, “ devils also came out of many, crying out and saying, 
Thou art Christ, the Son of God.” It was some time after 
this that our Saviour asked his disciples (Matt. xvi. 13, 14), 
“ Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am ? And they 


238 


DEMONIACAL POSSESSION. 


said, some say that thou art John the Baptist, some, Elias, 
and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.” Thus, we 
see, that they regarded him as no more than a prophet, they 
did not generally conceive him to be the Messiah, while the 
demoniacs had a fuller and juster notion of the sacredness 
of his person, and of the dignity of his character. 

It is not an uncommon opinion that those who were pos¬ 
sessed by devils, because they were so possessed, must have 
been in the highest degree offensive to God; that they were 
among the most wicked of mankind; and that it was only 
on account of their rebellion against God, their being so 
far off from his grace, and their having sinned so terribly 
against his goodness, that they were allowed to be so pos¬ 
sessed. We have only to examine the Scriptural account, 
however, to be led greatly to modify, if not entirely to change, 
this opinion. The only case which is an exception to this 
remark, is that of Judas, whose possession was specifically 
different from that of the other unhappy persons whom Christ 
came to deliver, inasmuch as the devil entering into him as 
the betrayer of our Lord, only entered into a mind thoroughly 
prepared for the wickedness to be accomplished. Such per¬ 
sons were treated by the Saviour as objects of compassion 
rather than of condemnation. They may have been guilty 
of what opened the door and courted, the inrush, as it were, 
of the evil spirits by which they were inhabited, but still their 
case, in the main, was misfortune — more misfortune than it 
was crime. Hence, there was in them a groaning under the 
tyranny they endured, and a piercing cry was continually 
uttered for deliverance. This was their sad condition. They 
felt that they were overcome by a power hostile at once to 
themselves and to God, and they earnestly desired to be re- 
lieved from it. Their state was, in the truest sense of the 
word, “a possessionanother was ruling in the high places 
of their souls, and they knew this; and out of the conscious¬ 
ness of this there went forth from them a cry for redemption. 
There seems to have been in them two wills—the will of the 


DEMONIACAL POSSESSION. 


239 


victim, and the will of the spirit, driving him wherever he 
would. 

To the question, why were these demoniacal cases so nu¬ 
merous at the commencement of the Christian era? several 
answers may be given. 1. The whole religion of societj 7 was 
then in a state of transition, passing from ancient rites, which 
’men saw to be insufficient, to a glorious Gospel which they were 
not prepared to receive; and, hence, they were at sea without 
a chart or compass. 2. The world was then in a state of un¬ 
exampled depravity. 3. The devils had a particular reason, 
at Christ’s appearance, for exerting their power and malice in 
opposition to the erection and establishment of the kingdom 
of God, and they may have been permitted to do so rn order 
more effectually to display his power and goodness in defeating 
them. I know it is sometimes asked why such possessions were 
in those days, and are not now. But, even admitting them to 
have ceased, which some question, it might as well be asked, 
why the cholera was not known in Europe, or in India, till 
1817, or in our country till 1832, where it appeared, then was 
suspended, and afterwards showed itself again. In both 
cases there is equal mystery. We have to take the facts as 
they are, saying, “ Even so, Father, because it seemeth good 
In thy sight" 


IMPORTANCE OF READING THE BIBLE. 


“ Thou truest friend man ever knew, 

Thy constancy I’ve tried ; 

"When all were false I found thee true, 

My counsellor and guide. 

The mines of earth no treasures give 
That could this volume buy: 

In teaching me the way to live, 

It taught me how to die.” 

History informs us that when Archbishop Cian 
mer’s edition of the Bible was printed, in 1588, it was 
fixed to a desk in all parochial churches, and men, 
with incredible ardor, flocked to read it. They who 
could, procured it, and they who could not, crowded 
* to read it, or to hear it read in churches, where it 
was common to see little assemblies of mechanics 
meeting together for that purpose after the labor of 
the day. Many even learned to read in their old 
age, that they might have the pleasure of instructing 
themselves from the Scriptures. Mr. Fox, the mar- 
tyrologist, mentions two apprentices who joined each 
his little stock, and bought a Bible, which, at every 
interval of leisure, they read; but, being afraid of 
their master, who was a zealous papist, they kept it 
under the straw of their bed. 


240 


READING THE BIBLE. 


241 


By a law, however, in the 84th of Henry the 
VIII., it was enacted, that no woman, except noble¬ 
women and gentlewomen, might read to themselves 
alone, or to others, any texts of the Bible, &c., nor 
artificers, apprentices, journeymen, husbandmen, 
nor laborers, were to read the Bible or New Testa¬ 
ment in English to themselves, or to any other per¬ 
son, privately or openly. 

Happily for us, in this age of light and liberty, 
we have the Bible in our own tongue; every man 
can purchase a copy of it for a very small sum, or 
receive it as a gift if he is too poor to buy it; and, 
amidst the means of education which abound on 
every side, and the religious liberty which we enjoy, 
no one need remain unable, or feel afraid, to read 
for himself the Word of God. How great our privi¬ 
leges ! How vast our responsibility ! What obliga¬ 
tion is resting upon us to improve the blessing thus 
placed within our reach ! We cannot, indeed, form 
any adequate estimate of the injury to ourselves, or 
the offence to the Almighty, which a neglect of His 
truth must involve. 

“ Let a subject,” says Payson, “ receive a commu¬ 
nication from his acknowledged sovereign, and as it 
claims, so it will receive his immediate attention. 
Nor will he, especially if it contains various and im¬ 
portant instructions, think a hasty perusal of it suf¬ 
ficient. No, he will study it till he feels confident 
that he is acquainted with its contents, and under¬ 
stands their import. At least equally certain, and 
21 


242 


READING THE BIBLE. 


equally evident is it, that every man whose heart 
acknowledges God to be his rightful sovereign, and 
who believes that the Scriptures contain a revelation 
from Him, will study them attentively, study them 
till he feels confident that he understands their con¬ 
tents, and that they have made him wise unto salva¬ 
tion. The man who does not study them, who negli¬ 
gently suffers them to lie, for days and weeks, un¬ 
opened, says, more explicitly than any words can 
say, I am Lord, God is not my Sovereign, I am not 
his subject; nor do I consider it important to know 
what he requires of me. Carry his messages to 
those who are subject to Him, and they will, perhaps, 
pay them some attention.” 

The Scriptures should he Read , because this is 

Divinely required. 

# 

The very writing of them infers an obligation to 
read them; and to refuse to do so, is to frustrate, as 
far as we can, the gracious ends and designs of their 
donation. But this duty does not rest merely on an 
inferential basis. The Jews were commanded to 
have all the words which they received from God, in 
their hearts, and to teach them diligently unto their 
children. (Deut. vi. 6, T). The Psalmist gives it 
as the character of a good man, that “ his delight is 
in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he medi¬ 
tate day and night.” Solomon enjoins upon us to 
“ cry after knowledge, seek her as silver, and search 


READING THE BIBLE. 


243 


for her as for hidden treasure.” Paul says, “Let 
the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wis- , 
dom.” "What John affirms of a part of the Bible is 
applicable to the whole (Rev. i. 3), “ Blessed is he 
that readeth, and they that hear the words of this 
revelation, and keep those things which are written 
therein.” And a greater than all these, even Jesus 
Christ himself, says, “ Search the Scriptures, for in 
them ye think ye have eternal life, and they testify 
of me.” 

• « 

The Scriptures should he Read , because by them 
only can we attain a competent knowledge of our 
duty and destiny . 

Emphatically may they say, as the Saviour him* 
self said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the 
life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” 
We cannot even think of abandoning them without 
being forced to the exclamation of the disciples, 

“ Lord, to whom shall we go ? thou hast the words 
of eternal life.” Talk of Reason, as a sufficient 
guide to the race! She has no just claim to any 
such character, and the individual who should ven¬ 
ture to follow her direction, has most fitly been com¬ 
pared to a man carrying a little glimmering taper 
in his hand at noonday, with his back turned to the 
sun, and foolishly endeavoring to persuade himself 
and others that he had no need of the sun, and that 
his taper gave more light than that glorious lumi- 


244 READING THE BIBLE. 

nary. If, as some allege, she is able to guide us in 
the path of truth and happiness, why has she ac¬ 
complished so little in lands where her feeble beams 
alone have struggled with the thick darkness ? Why 
did she not teach the learned Egyptians to abstain 
from worshipping their leeks and onions ? Why not 
instruct the polished Greeks to renounce their sixty 
thousand gods ? Why not persuade the enlightened 
Romans to abstain from adoring their deified mur¬ 
derers ? Why not prevail on the wealthy Phoeni¬ 
cians to refrain from sacrificing their infants to Sa¬ 
turn ? Why not teach the pagan philosophers the 
great doctrine of the soul’s immortality, which they 
so earnestly labored in vain to discover ? No, veri¬ 
ly, Reason cannot lead man to a knowledge of his 
God and of himself, — his past, his present, and his 
future. Whatever may he her proper province and 
power, it is not to find and fathom the mysteries 
which Eaith alone can discern. She may see that 
such mysteries exist when they are revealed to 
her, as Moses descried the promised inheritance, 
hut, like him, “she must not come into the Holy 
Land.” 

“ Dim as the borrowed beams of moon and stars 
To lonely, weary, wandering travellers, 

Is Reason to the soul; and as on high 
Those rolling fires discover but the sky, 

Nor light us here ; so Reason’s glimmering ray 
Was lent, not to assure our doubtful way, 

But guide us upward to a better day. 


READING THE BIBLE. 


245 


And as those nightly tapers disappear, 

When day’s bright lord ascends our hemisphere, 
So, pale grows Reason, at Religion’s sight; 

So dies, and so dissolves, in supernatural light.” 


The Scriptures should he Read , because this is one 
great means of reaching the practical benefits 
which they propose to confer . 

They are “ profitable for doctrine,” to teach us all 
necessary truth, as well as to instruct us in such 
other parts of divine knowledge as will contribute to 
our improvement and happiness. They are profit¬ 
able for “ reproof,” to enlighten and arouse our con¬ 
sciences ; to show us to ourselves, and to convince 
us of our errors and sins, because they are the stand¬ 
ard of truth, and the rule of duty. 

They are profitable for “ correction to reform our 
manners and habits; to comfort the feeble-minded; 
to support the weak; to make straight the crooked, 
and to raise the fallen. And they are profitable for 
“instruction in righteousness,” not only to reclaim 
us from all evil, but to improve us in all holiness, to 
establish us in every good word and work, “ till we 
all come, in the unity of the faith and of the know¬ 
ledge of the Son of God, unto the measure of the 
stature of the' fulness of Christ.” 

Some books may be read without any advantage, 
but not so the Bible. 

21 * 


246 


READING THE BIBLE. 


u, Tis revelation satisfies all doubts, 

And solves all mysteries except its own ; 

And so illuminates the path of life, 

That fools discover it and stray no more.” 

The Bereans “ received the word with all readi¬ 
ness of mind; they searched the Scriptures daily , 
and, therefore, many of them believed” David says, 
“ The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the 
soul ” The Lord Jesus Christ prays for his people, 
“ Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is 
truth/’ “ And Paul says, “ What things were writ¬ 
ten aforetime were written for our learning, that we, 
through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, 
might have hope” 66 Beholding as in a glass the 
glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same 
image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of 
the Lord.” To all these personal and precious 
benefits, arising from the prayerful and persevering 
perusal of the Scriptures, may be added the happi¬ 
ness which such an exercise imparts to those who 
yield themselves to it, verifying, as it does in their 
experience, the language of the Psalmist, “great 
peace have they that love Thy law,” causing their 
hearts, like those of the disciples on their way to 
Emmaus, to burn within them, and enabling them 
at every stage of their Zionward progress to say 
and to sing :— 

I choose the path of heavenly truth, 

And glory in my choice ; 

Not all the riches of the earth 
Could make me so rejoice.” 


READING THE BIBLE. 


247 


Directions for Reading the Bible * 

“ How readest thou?” If ever this question was 
important, it is so in regard to the Oracles of God. 
Much, perhaps all, the benefit that is derivable from 
them depends on the manner in which they are 
studied. Some resort to them only for gratification 
and entertainment; others for spiritual improve¬ 
ment and consolation. One reads, and is converted 
from the error of his ways. Another is guided in 
his experimental and practical doubts and difficul 
ties. Another still, is revived while walking in the 
midst of trouble. Some float for ever on the surface 
of admitted truths, fearful to rise above the level 
over which they have hovered from the first moment 
of consciousness. These resemble those birds which 
feed upon the insects dancing on the water; who 
never rise into the air, but always skim the surface 
of the lake, on the borders of which they received 
life. Others, on bold, adventurous wing, rise into 
the trackless regions of mystery, till they sink from 
the pride of their elevation, perplexed and ex¬ 
hausted. These, by aiming at too much, lose every 
thing. Because they have attempted unsuccessfully 
to investigate that which God has been pleased to 
put out of the reach of human comprehension, they 
will not believe any thing ; they embrace a system 
of universal skepticism. So, Noah’s dove beheld on 
every side a boundless expansion of waters: and 
whether she rose or sunk, was equally bewildered, 


248 


READING THE BIBLE. 


and found no rest for the sole of her foot. There 
is one point of difference, and that is, that she re¬ 
turned to the ark; but they too often are found to 
turn despisers, who wonder and perish. 

The Bible should be Read with an honest , humble , 
and teachable mind . 

Prejudice, like the jaundice, diffuses its own color 
on every object that it surveys. When men ap¬ 
proach the Scriptures full of their own preposses¬ 
sions, they strive not so much to ascertain the sense 
of the truth revealed, as to bend and accommodate 
the revelation to their preconceived opinions. In¬ 
stead of conforming their faith to the Word of God, 
they wrest and pervert it so as to make it suit their 
peculiar bias. Freedom from prejudice is an es¬ 
sential qualification for learning any truth, but es¬ 
pecially divine truth; for, in the reception of it, a 
good heart is as much needed as a good understand¬ 
ing.” “ The state of the heart,” it has well been 
said, “ has the chief influence in the search after 
truth: humility, contrition, simplicity, sanctity, 
these are the handmaids of the understanding in the 
investigation of religion.” This is but an affirmation 
in other words, of that saying of our Lord, “ If any 
man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine 
whether it be of God.” We should come to the pe¬ 
rusal of the Scriptures, with minds as clear and un¬ 
tainted, as free from partiality, as open to convic- 


READING THE BIBLE. 


249 


tion, and as susceptible of good impressions as in 
the state of childhood. High thoughts of ourselves 
should be cast away. It is the pride of the under¬ 
standing which has made so many infidels. They 
have been wise above what was written, and wiser 
in their own eyes than men who could render a rea¬ 
son. It is our duty not to lean to our own under¬ 
standing, but submit to be instructed by God, re¬ 
membering that, if Reason were a sufficient guide, 
there would be no need of Revelation. “ As new¬ 
born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that 
ye may grow thereby.” “ Whosoever shall not re¬ 
ceive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall 
not enter therein.” “ God resisteth the proud, but 
giveth grace unto the humble.” “ The meek will he 
guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach his 
way.” 

The Bible should be Read as an Inspired Book. 

It is one thing not to question this, and another, 
and a very different thing, actually and frequently 
to impress the mind with it. I enter not into any 
argument to prove that “ holy men of God spake ” 
and wrote “ as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 
I do no more than refer to their profession of being 
inspired, and the sublime and holy truths which they 
uttered, and the mighty miracles which they wrought 
in confirmation of their claim, and the wonderful 
prophecies which their writings contain. It is enough 


% 


250 READING THE BIBLE. 

o know, on authority which has never been shaken, 
that “ all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” 
How much depends on remembering and feeling this! 
Let the word he regarded as human, and it will in¬ 
fluence as human ; but let it be read as divine, and 
it will operate divinely. “For this cause, also,” 
says the Apostle, “ we thank God without ceasing, 
because, when ye received the w*ord of God which 
ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of 
men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which 
effectually worketh also in you that believe.” — 
1 Thess. ii. 13. 

The Bible should be Read Intelligently. 

If not understood, of course it cannot profit. It 
is a good thing to begin with the easiest and plainest 
parts, and by degrees proceed to those w T hich are 
more obscure and difficult. In the old Testament 
we should read Psalms and Proverbs , and similar 
portions ; and then the historical books in their 
chronological order; and then the Prophets. In 
the New Testament we should take up first the Gos¬ 
pels, afterwards the Acts of the Apostles , then the 
j Epistles, in their order of time, and conclude with 
Revelation. It is a good thing, also, when we have 
commenced a paragraph or subject, to read on till 
we have come to the end of it, regardless of the 
division in chapters and verses. These breaks are 
useful, and they are generally made in their proper 


READING THE BIBLE. 


251 


places, but not always; in consequence of which, the 
sense is injured or darkened by the writer’s closing 
before he has finished, or commencing something 
in the middle of the argument. Too much stress 
should not be laid on a particular word or phrase, 
but we should be guided by the natural current of 
the passage, and endeavor always to apprehend 
what is the present design of the sacred writer. 
We should “compare spiritual things with spirit¬ 
ual the writings of one author with another, and 
the same author with himself, and thus, while avail¬ 
ing ourselves of every assistance from the labors 
of others, endeavor to make the Word of God as 
much as possible its own interpreter. Spiritualizing, 
so called, frequently betrays great weakness of 
intellect. Some passages, indeed, must be under¬ 
stood spiritually, but it would be a sad mistake to 
imagine that the spiritual meaning is some far¬ 
fetched allegory. Most passages, in their plain, 
literal^ grammatical sense, convey a spiritual mean¬ 
ing, and establish some spiritual truth. 

The Bible should be Bead in a Prayerful Frame 
of Mind . 

The Holy Spirit, who first indited the Scriptures, 
must enlighten our minds to perceive their precious¬ 
ness, and soften our hearts to feel their power. It 
is His province to lead us into all truth. David felt 
this when he offered the earnest prayer—“ Give mo 


252 


READING THE BIBLE. 


understanding that I may know Thy testimonies; 
make me to understand the way of Thy precepts: 
so shall I talk of Thy wondrous works.” We should, 
then, be thoroughly persuaded that we cannot sav¬ 
ingly understand the Bible without divine teaching, 
any more than a blind man can perceive the light 
of the sun, or a dead man feel its warmth. The Spirit 
of God alone, by his secret influences, can open our 
eyes, and if we ask for this blessing, we have every 
reason to hope it will be granted. Such is the 
priceless promise : “ If any of you lack wisdom, let 
him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and 
upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.” 

The Bible should be Read with Constant and Spe¬ 
cial Reference to Jesus Christ . 

It is emphatically “ the word of Christ.” Its his¬ 
tories are a record of the scaffolding that preceded 
his advent, and the fabric that was carried on after 
his resurrection. “To Him gave all the prophets 
witness.” From Him the promises derive all their 
force, and beauty, and sweetness. From Him the 
ceremonial part receives all its meaning and consis¬ 
tency. Of Him the doctrinal part is full, — his 
righteousness, sacrifice, and intercession, being 
among the leading and distinguishing truths of 
^Christianity. And with Him the practical part is 
also replete; His example being our pattern; His 
love our motive; His law our regulating directory, 


READING THE BIBLE. 


253 


and His glory our end. We must hearken, there¬ 
fore, to the Saviour, as He says, “ Search the Scrip¬ 
tures, for they testify of Me.” He is the key that 
unlocks this sacred treasury, and opens to us what 
before were mysteries. “ To understand and enter 
into His various offices and characters,” says Cecil, 
“ the glories of His person and work — his relation 
to us, and ours to Him, and to God the Father and 
Spirit through Him—this is the knowledge of Christ. 
To know Jesus Christ for ourselves, is to make Him 
our consolation, delight, strength, righteousness, 
companion, and end.” 


The Bible should be Read with solemn regard to its 
Personal and Practical bearings. 

Every man has his “ own salvation” to work out. 
Every man is called to take care of his “ own soul,”— 

“ That mysterious thing, 

Which hath no limit from the walls of sense, 

No chill from hoary time,—with pale decay 
No fellowship,—but shall stand forth unchanged, 
Unscorched amid the resurrection fires, 

To bear its boundless lot of good or ill.” 

The Bible, moreover, is entirely a practical book. 
Its precepts prescribe our duty; its invitations call 
us to perform it; and its promises, and threatenings, 
and prophecies, and doctrines, and cautions, and 
admonitions, are all motives to such performance. 
22 


254 


READING THE BIBLE. 


We must, therefore, be “ doers of the word, and 
not” readers “ only, deceiving our ownselves.” 

We should search the Scriptures — search them 
frequently, too. A portion of every day should be 
set apart for this important work, and no business 
be allowed to interfere with the appointed duty, 
connected, as it is, with an interest vast as eternity. 
If we cannot spare hours, we should snatch mo¬ 
ments; and if we cannot peruse many chapters, we 
should read single verses, and treasure them in our 
memories. But, whilst thus faithful, we must read, 
not merely to learn the Divine will, but to obey it. 
Our knowledge must be influential. Our minds must 
not only be enlightened, but our conscience and life 
must be ruled and rectified. “If ye know these 
things, happy are ye if ye do them.” We should 
act in the spirit of the prayer, “ Blessed Lord, who 
hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our 
learning, grant that we may in such wise hear them, 
read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that 
by patience and comfort of thy Holy Word we may 
embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of ever¬ 
lasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour 
Jesus Christ.” Amen. 


\ 


TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH IN A YEAR. 


Read three chapters daily, and five on the Sabbath; that 
is, two chapters in the Old Testament, and one daily in 
Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Solomon’s Song, and the 
New Testament—three on the Sabbath. 

The Old Testament, without these four books, contains two 
chapters a-day for the year; and the New Testament, with 
the four books, has one chapter a-day, and three for Sabbath 
days, less eight chapters. 

Read Psalm 119 as eleven chapters, of two divisions each, 
and connect the short Psalms, 117 and 131, with the next, and 
133 and 134 together—thus adding eight chapters to complete 
the year. February 29, in leap year, is left out, so as not to 


derange the list. 




January. 1, 

Genesis, 1, 

Psalm 8, 

1 

8, 

“ 15, 

it 

10 

15, 

“ 29, 

it 

19 

22, 

“ 43, 

tt 

28 

29, 

Exodus, 7, 

tt 

37 

February, 5, 

“ 21, 

a 

46 

12, 

“ 35, 

u 

55 

19, 

Leviticus, 9, 

tt 

64 

26, 

“ 23, 

a 

73 

March, 5, 

Numbers, 10, 

tt 

82 

12, 

“ 24, 

a 

91 

19, 

Deut. 2, 

tt 

100 

26, 

“ 16, 

tt 

109 

« 


255 



• 




256 TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH 


April, 2, 

' 9, 

16, 

23, 

30, 

May, 7, 

14, 
21 , 
28, 

June, 4, 
11 , 
18, 

25, 

July, 2, 

9, 
16, 

23, 
30, 

August, 6, 
13, 
20 , 
27, 

September, 3, 

10 , 

17, 

24, 

October, 1, 

8 , 

15, 
22 , 
29, 

November, 5, 
12 , 
19, 

26, 




Deut. 

30, 

Psalms, 

118 

Joshua, 

10, 

<< 

119 


, 

V. 

145 

ii 

24, 

u 

127 

Judges, 

14, 

(< 

138 

1 Sam. 

3 , 

«« 

147 

ii 

17, 

Prov. 

6 

it 

31, 

a 

15 

2 Sam. 

14, 

a 

24 

1 Kings, 

4, 

Eccles. 

2 

“ 

18, 

ii 

11 

2 Kings, 

10, 

S. Song, 

8 

ii 

24, 

Matt. 

9 

1 Chron. 13, 

ii 

18 

ii 

27, 

ii 

27 

2 Chron. 

12, 

Mark, . 

8 

ii 

26, 

Luke, 

1 

Ezra, 

4, 

ii 

10 

Neh. 

8, 

ii 

19 

Esther, 

9, 

John, 

4 

Job, 

13, 

ii 

13 

ii 

27, 

Acts, 

1 

ii 

41, 

ii 

10 

Isaiah, 

13, 

ii 

19 

ii 

27, 

ii 

28 

ii 

41, • 

Romans, 

9 

ii 

55, 

1 Cor. 

2 

Jer. 

3, 

ii 

11 

ii 

17, 

2 Cor. 

4 

ii 

31, 

ii 

13 

ii 

45, 

Ephes, 

3 

Ezekiel, 

2 

Coloss. 

2 

ii 

16, 

2 Thess. 

2 

ii 

30 , 

2 Tim. 

2 

ii 

44, 

Hebrews, 

, 3 

Daniel, 

10, 

ii 

11 



t 


WITHIN THE YEAR 


257 


December, 3, 

Hosea, 

11, 

1 Peter, 

3 

. 10 , 

Amos, 

9, 

1 John, 

4 

17, 

Neh. 

1, 

Rev. 

5 

24, 

Zech. 

5, 

U 

14 

31, 

Mai. 

4, 

it 

22. 

“ Blessed Lord, 

who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be 


written for our learning, grant that we may in such wise 
hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, 
that, by patience and comfort of Thy Holy Word, we may 
embrace, and*ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting 
life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour, Jesus Christ. 
Amen.” 



IniptnrB fiplmtntiniis. 

Armor. —The armor of a Roman warrior will illustrate Eph. vi. 14-17. 

Ablution. —For the eastern manner of washing the hands, see 2 Kings iii. 11. 

Attitudes of Adoration. —1 Chron. xxix. 20. 

Books. — The ancient books were made of papyrus, or Egyptian reed, and after¬ 
wards of parchment. They were rol’ed up like mercers’ silk on a roll of 
wood, Isa. viii. 1; Jer. xxxvi. 2. 

Bottles of Leather. — These were the wine-bottles, old and rent, mentioned Josh, 
ix. 4, and Matt. ix. 17. 

Civic Crowns. — These are often alluded to in Scripture. They were generally 
made of olive, pine, laurel, apple or parsley, and were bestowed on the 
victors in the games, 1 Cor. ix. 25, &c. 

Gates. —The eastern gates of cities were usually places of great resort; here 
justice was administered, &c., Ruth iv. 11; 2 Sam. xv. 2, &c. 

Grave-clothes. —Were folds of linen wrapped round the body. 

HandmiU. —Matt. xxiv. 41. The handmill was about two feet in diameter, 
and half a foot thick. The upper stone moved round by a handle of wood. 
It is common for two women to work the mill, pushing the handle round 
alternately. 

Horns of the Altar. —These were the projecting corners of the altars, to which 
the victims are supposed to have been tied at the time of sacrifice, Exod. 
xxvii. 2; 1 Kings ii. 28. 

House-top. —This in the east was used for walking, sleeping, ana making procla¬ 
mation, Matt. x. 27; Luke v. 19; xii. 3; xvii. 31. 

Hyke , or Garment. —An Arab Ilyke, or outward garment, explains many pas¬ 
sages where garments are mentioned—these being loose, and easily thrown 
oil', still leaving the person with close clothing. The more modern dresses 
of the east still retain a loose outer garment, Mark xi. 7, &c. The Arab’s 
Hyke forms his bed as well as his day-clothing. 

Jackals. —These were the foxes generally mentioned, Psa. lxiiL 10; Judg. xv. 4; 
Cant. ii. 15. 

Locusts— An insect about two inches and a half long; visits parts of the east in 
myriads, and is most destructive to vegetation, Exod. x. 4; Joel i. 4; Matt, 
iii. 4, &c. 

Palm-tree. —A valuable tree, used for many purposes, and bearing much precious 
fruit, Psa. xcii. 12. Its branches were symbols of joy and triumph, Rev.vii. 9. 

Phylactery. —Matt, xxiii. 5. Phylacteries were strips of parchment on which 
were written sentences of the law; they were bound on the left arm. 

Sandals. —Soles bound to the feet, Mark vi. 9. 

Slingers. —The ancient sling needs little description. The Benjamites used it with 
skill: it was whirled round several times, and then the stone or bullet 
went with tremendous force to distances of from 400 to 600 feet, Judges xx. 
16; 1 Sam. xvii. 49. 

Tents, or Tabernacles. —The habitations of people of the early ages, and the now 
wandering tribes of Arabia, Ileb. xi. 9. 

Teraphim. —These are often called images in Scripture; Nebuchadnezzar con¬ 
sulted his Teraphim, Ezek. xxi. 21. 

Tombs in Idumea. —Tombs in the east were commonly cut out of the rocks, of 
which there are still many remains. 

Treading Cbm. —This was done by oxen driven round the threshing-floor, Deut. 
xxv. 4. &c. 

Vail. —The vail is a kind of hood, scarf, or mantle, worn by eastern females 
to conceal their faces. 

War-chariot. —War-chariots were generally distinguished by hooks or scythes 
attached to the axles, Joshua xvii. 16. &c. 

Water-wheel. —This was one method of watering with the foot, the wheel being 
turned both by foot and hand, Deut. xi. 10. 

Wrestling. —Eph. vi. 12. The wrestlers were noted men in the Olympic games. 

258 


I 


BJrmnmtilt (Punts, 

ARRANGED IN THE ORDER OF SCRIPTURE. 


Gen. 

2 

Creation. 

2 Kings20 

Hezekiah’s life lengthened. 


3 

I all ot man. 

*• 

25 

Jerusalem taken and burnt 


4 

First murder. 



by Nebuzar-adan, Nebu- 


7 

Deluge. 



chadnezzar’s captain. 

u 

11 

Babel, and confusion of 

Ezra 

1 

Cyrus’s degree. 



tongues. 

66 

3 

Temple begun. 

66 

12 

Calling of Abram. 

Neh. 

4 

Sanballat’s opposition to re- 


14 

First recorded battle. 



building Jerusalem. 

u 

19 

Sodom & Gomorrah burned. 

Esth. 

1 

Ahasuerus’s feast. 

u 

22 

Abraham offers Isaac. 

66 

2 

Esther made a queen. 

66 

41 

Joseph’s elevation. 

«• 

. 6 

Mordecai raised to honor. 

Exod. 

2 

Moses saved. 

66 

7 

Haman hanged. 

“ i 

r -12 

Plagues of Egypt. 

Job 

2 

Job’s calamities. 

66 

12 

Passover established. 

Jer. 

38 

Jeremiah in the dungeon. 


14 

Red sea passed. 

Dan. 

3 

Shadrach, Meshach, and 

66 

16 

Manna provided. 



Abednego in the fiery fur- 


17 

Rock yields water. 



nace. 

66 

20 

Law given. 

66 

4 

Nebuchadnezzar’s dreadful 

66 

32 

Golden calf worshipped 



malady. 

66 

39 

Tabernacle completed. 

66 

5 

Belshazzar’s feast. 

Lev. 

10 

Nadab and Abihu devoured 

66 

6 

Daniel in the lion’s den. 



by fire. 

Jonah 

1 

Jonah swallowed up. 

N umb. 16 

Korah, Datban, and Abiram 

66 

3 

Nineveh’s repentance. 



swallowed up. 

Matt. 

2 

Christ’s birth. 

66 

21 

Brazen serpent. 



Wise men of the East seek 

Josh. 

3 

Jordan passed over. 



Jesus, Herod’s plot against 

66 

6 

Jericho taken. 



Christ defeated. 

66 

10 

Sun and moon stand still. 



Joseph and Mary escape 

Judg. 

7 

Midianites routed by Gideon 



with Jesus into Egypt. 

66 

11 

Jephthah’s vow. 



Herod slays the young chil- 

66 

16 

Death of Samson. 



dren. 

1 Sam. 6 

Dagon falls before the ark. 

66 

3 

John the Baptist preaches 

66 

6 

The ark sent back. 



in the wilderness. 

66 

7 

Philistines defeated bythun- 



Christ's baptism. 



der at Ebenezer. 

66 

4 

Christ’s temptation. 

66 

10 

Anointing of Saul. 

66 

5 

Sermon on the Mount. 

66 

17 

Goliath slain. 

66 

10 

The twelve apostles sent out. 

2 Sam. 6 

Uzzah smitten. 

66 

14 

John the Baptist beheaded. 

1 Kings 8 

Dedication of the temple. 

66 

17 

Christ’s transfiguration. 

66 

13 

Disobedient prophet slain. 

66 

21 

Christ’s entrance into Jeru- 

66 

17 

Elijah fed by ravens. 



salem. v 

66 

18 

Elijah’s contest with the 

66 

24 

Christ predicts the destruo- 



priests of Baal. 



tion of Jerusalem. 

2 Kings 2 

Elijah’s translation to hea- 

66 

26 

Lord’s Supper. 



ven. 



Christ’s agony. 



Elisha’s mockers devoured 



Peter denies Christ. 



by bears. 

66 

27 

Christ’s crucifixion. 

66 

13 

Elisha’s bones raise the dead 

66 

28 Christ’s resurrection. 



man. 

Luke 

1'John the Baptist’s birth. 

66 

19 

Sennacherib’s defeat. 

66 

71 

Woman washes Christ’s feet 


259 


















260 


MEMORABLE EVENTS. 


Herod’s blasphemy and aw¬ 
ful end. 

Paul and Barnabas sent to 
the Gentiles. 

Paul heals a cripple at Lys- 
tra, and the people would 
have worshipped him. 
Paul and Barnabas separate. 
Timothy circumcised. 

Lydia converted. 

Possessed damsel cured. 
Paul and Silas imprisoned. 
Jailor converted. 

Paul’s discourse at Athens. 
Sceva the Jew’s seven sons 
exorcists. 

Ephesians burn their books 
of magic. 

Demetrius, the silversmith, 
raises an uproar. 
Eutychus restored to life. 
Paul’s farewell to the elders 
of Ephesus. 

Paul at Jerusalem, and un¬ 
der accusation. 

Paul recites his conversion. 
Paul before Felix. 

Paul before Festus, Felix’s 
successor. 

Paul before Agrippa. 

Paul shipwrecked. 

Paul shakes off a viper. 
Publius and others cured. 
Paul a prisoner at Rome. 
Paul’s perils. 

Paul’s ecstasy. 

Paul rebukes Peter. 

The great apostasy predicted 
John banished to Patinos. 

N. B. The Miracles of Christ are here omitted, being arranged under the head 
Miracles, 


Luke 

10 

Martha and Mary entertain 

Acts 

12 



Jesus. 



66 

20 

Christ silences the Phari¬ 

66 

13 



sees when asking subtle 





questions. 

66 

14 

66 

24 

Disciples at Emmaus. 



John 

2 

Marriage in Cana. 



66 

3 

Nicodemus visits Christ. 

66 

15 



John the Baptist’s testi¬ 

66 

16 



mony to Christ. 



66 

4 

Woman of Samaria. 



66 

8 

Woman taken in adultery 





released. 



66 

12 

Mary anoints Christ’s feet. 

66 

17 

66 

13 

Christ washes the disciples’ 

66 

19 



feet. 



66 

14 

Christ’s last discourse. 



66 

21 

Christ’s appearance after his 





resurrection. 



Acts 

1 

Christ’s ascension from 





Mount Olivet. 

66 

20 

66 

2 

Pentecost. 



66 

3 

Peter and John heal the 





lame man. , 

66 

21 

66 

5 

Ananias andSapphira struck 





dead. 

66 

22 



The apostles work miracles. 

66 

24 



Released from prison by an 

66 

25 



angel. 



66 

6 

First appointment of dea¬ 

66 

26 



cons. 

66 

27 

66 

7 

Martyrdom of Stephen. 

66 

28 

66 

8 

Philip and the eunuch. 



66 

9 

Saul’s conversion. 





Peter cures iEneas of palsy. 

2 Cor. 

11 



Peter raises to life Tabitha 

66 

12 



or Dorcas. 

Cal. 

2 

66 

10 

Cornelius and Peter. 

2 Thess. 2 

66 

12 

Herod kills James. 

1 Tim. 

4 



Peter imprisoned, and re¬ 

Rev. 

1 



leased by an angel. 





















rijjiir nf Jfutinns. 


NOAH’S SONS. 

» 

SHEM. HAM. JAPHET. 

Gejt. i — JAPHET’S SONS * 


Sons of 
Japhet. 


Gomer. 

Magog. 

Madai. 

Javan. 

Tubal. 

Meshech. 

'liras. 


Principal countries 
peopled by them. 
Asia Minor. Armenia. 
Caucasus. Europe. 


Principal nations sprung from them. 


Russians, Germans, Gauls, Britons. 
Scythians. 

Medes .—So Josephus. 

Ionians and Athenians. 

Iberians.— Josephus. And Albanians. 
Moscovites. 

Thracians; or the People of the Hellespont, 
now called the Dardanelles. 


SIIEM’S SONS. 


Elam. 

Asshur. 

Arphaxad. 

Lud. 

Aram. 


Assyria. Syria. Persia. 
Arabia N. Mesopota¬ 
mia. 


Elamites, or Persians. 

Assyrians. 

“Chaldeans are Arphaxadeans.”— Jostr 
phus. 

Lydians. — So Bishop Watson. 

Syrians, Armenians. 


HAM’S SONS. | 


Cush. 

Mizraim. 

Phut. 

Canaan. 


Arabia. Egypt. North I 
coast of Africa. 


Ethiopians, or Abyssinians. 
Egyptians. 

Lybians. 

Canaanites. 


/ 


* Gen. x. 5. “ By these were the isles,” &c. The word translated Isles rather 
means countries, especially those washed by the sea. . 


261 

































r 


% 


Itntjjtn ^nntirrljs partirttlnrlq mratimtfi in 

IttiftWB, 

WITH THE KINGS OF JUDAIA, OF THE IDUMEAN RACE. 

Scriptures. 

Kings. 

Countries. 

Remarks. 

Gen. xx. 

Abimelech (1.) 

Philistia. 

The name seems to have 
been a titular distinction 
given to the kings of the 
Philistines, and signifies 
“Rather of a king,” or 
“ Royal father.” This 
king took Sarah, Abra¬ 
ham’s wife, into his ha¬ 
rem, from which she was 
miraculously delivered. 
He formed a league of 
peace with Abraham. 

— xxvi. 

Abimelech (2.) 

6i 

Another Philistine king 
of Gerar of this name. 
The same danger over¬ 
took Rebekah which at¬ 
tended Sarah, but Abime¬ 
lech relinquished her 
on finding she was a 
wife. He had some dis¬ 
pute with Isaac about 
wells, but renewed the 
old covenant of peace. 

1 Sam. xxi. 27. 

Achish. 

ii 

The Philistine king of 
Gath, with whom David 
twice sought refuge from 
Saul. 

Josh. x. 1. 

Adoni-bezek. 

ii 

He bore the name of king, 
but was only a petty 
prince of Bezek, near 
Sheehem. He had, how¬ 
ever, conquered seventy 
others, to whom he 
showed great cruelty. 
His territory was the 
first conquest after the 
death of Joshua. 

Judges i. 1-7. 

Adoni-zedec. 

Jerusalem. 

Palestine. 

He was king of Jerusalem 
when the Israelites en¬ 
tered Canaan. Conquered 
by Joshua. 

1 Sam. xv. 28, 32. 

Agag. 

Amalekites in 
Arabia. 

Agag, a cruel prince, slain 
by Samuel. The name 
seems to have been com¬ 
mon, or titular. Numb, 
xxiv. 7. 

Acts xxv. 13. 

Agrippa. 

ii 

See “ Herod.” 

Dan. ix. 1. 

Ahasuerus (1.) 

Media. 

Incidentally mentioned as 
the father of Darius the 
Mede. He is believed to 
be the Astyages of pro¬ 
fane history, and the last 
king of Media. 


\ 


262 





















263 


* 


HEATHEN MONARCHS. 


Scriptures. 

Kings. 

Countries. 

Remarks. 

Ezra iv. 6. 

Ahasuerus (2.) 

Persia. 

This is thought to have 
been the tyrant Cam- 
byses. To this Ahasuerus 
the enemies of the Jews 
wrote an accusation. 

Esther i. 1. 

Ahasuerus (3.) 

(6 

This is the king who mar¬ 
ried Esther. 

Numb. xxi. 1-3. 

Arad. 

• 

Canaanites. 

He commenced the war | 
with the Israelites which ' 
ended in the destruction 
of the nations of Canaan. 

Matt. ii. 22. 

Archelaus. 

Idumea; Ju¬ 
daea ; Sama¬ 
ria. 

He was a tetrarcb, by the 
will of his father, Herod 
the Great, to whom this 
part of his kingdom was 
allotted. He was the most 
cruel of Herod’s sons, on 
account of whom Joseph 
feared taking the infant 
Saviour into Judaea. 

Ezra iv. 10. 

Asnapper. 

Assyria 

This prince is usually iden¬ 
tified with Esarhaddom. 

Numb. xxii. 

Balak. 

Moab. 

The king who, terrified at 
the approach of the Is¬ 
raelites, applied to Ba¬ 
laam to curse them. 

1 Dan. v. 

i 

1 

Belshazzar. 

Chaldea. 

He perished in the taking 
of Babylon by the Medes 

1 and Persians, and was the 
last king of the Chaldeans 

1 Kings xv. 18. 

Ben-hadad (1.) 

Syria. 

Subsidized by Asa, king of 
Judah, to invade Israel, 
in the days of Baasha. 

1 Kings xx. Ac. 

Ben-hadad (2.) 


Son of the preceding. He 
warred continually with 
Ahab, and afterwards 
with Jehoram, his son; 
was several times defeated 
miraculously in the days 
of Elisha; was smothered 
by Hazael, who usurped 
his throne. 

2 Kings xiii. 

Ben-badad (3.) 

M 

Son of the usurper Hazael, 
thrice defeated by Jeho- 
ash, king of Israel. 

— xx. 12. 

Berodach-baladan. 

Babylonia. 

A king of Babylon, who 
lived in friendship with 
Hezekiah. 

Luke ii. 1. 

Caesar A ugustus(l) 

Roman. 

Caesar was a titular dis¬ 
tinction, conferred on 
all the Roman emperors, 
after Julius Caesar, with¬ 
out the mention of their 
proper names. Augus¬ 
tus, Ac. He decreed the 
taxing, or enrolment, at 
the time of Christ’s birth, 
Judaea being then a Ro¬ 
man province, and its' 
king subject to Caesar. | 































264 

HEATHEN 

MONARt 

Scriptures. 

Kings. 

Countries. 

Luke iii. 1. 

— xx. 22. 

Tiberius Csesar(2.) 

Roman. 

Acts xi. 28. 

Claudius Caesar(3.) 

a 

Acts xxv. 8,10,12. 

Nero Caesar (4.) 

a 

Gen. xiv. 

Chedorlaomer. 

Elam. 

Judg. iii. 10. 

Chusan-risha- 

thaim. 

Mesopotamia. 

Ezra i., See. 

Cyrus. 

Persia; 

Media; 

Babylon, by 
conquest. 

Dan. ix. 1. 

Darius (1.) 

Msedo-Persian. 

Ezra iv. vii,; 
Haggai; 

Zech. 

Darius (2.) 

Persia. 

Nehe. xii. 22. 

Darius (3.) 

u 

Judg. iii. 

Eglon. 

Moab. 

Isa. xx. 1; 

2 Kings xix. 37. 

1 

Esarhaddan. 

Assyria. 

1 Kings xvi. 31. 

Ethbaal. 

Zidon. 

Gen. xxxvi. 25. 

Hadad 

1 

Edom. 



Remarks. 


In the fifteenth year of his 
reign, John the Baptist 
commenced his ministry. 
It was to him the chief 
priests and scribes al¬ 
luded when they asked 
Christ if he ought to have 
tribute. 

In whose days there was 
a great dearth. 

To whom Paul appealed 
from the inferior tribu¬ 
nals of Judaea. 

Leader of the five kings 
who invaded Canaan, in 
the time of Abraham. 
Made Israel tributaryeight 
years, but conquered by 
Othniel, its first judge. 
He was remarkably men¬ 
tioned by name in the 
prophecies of Isaiah as 
the restorer of the Jews 
from Babylon. (Chapters 
xliv., xlv). 

He obtained the dominion 
overBabylon on the death 
of Belshazzar. He is 
called, in profane his¬ 
tory, Cyaxares II., son 
and successor of Asty- 
ages, (Ahasuerus,) and 
the immediate predeces¬ 
sor of Cyrus. 

The king who effected the 
execution of the decrees 
of Cyrus to rebuild the 
temple, &c. He is called 
in profane history Darius 
Hystaspis. 

Incidentally mentioned; 
the succession of priests 
being registered up to his 
name. 

He subdued the Israelites 
eighteen years, and was 
killed by Ehud! 

Son of Sennacherib, whom 
he succeeded on the 
throne. He conquered 
Jerusalem, and carried 
Manasseh captive. 

The father of Jezebel. 

He defeated the Midian- 
ites in the intervening 
territory of Moab. This 
is the only king of Edom 
whose exploits are men¬ 
tioned by Moses. 

























• '■ - . ' ■ 1 

. 

. 








\ 






i 

HEATHEN 

MONARCHS. 265 

Scriptures. 

Kings. 

Countries. 

Remarks. 

2 Sam. viii. 3; 

1 Chron. xviii. 3. 

Hadadezer. 

Zobah. 

A powerful monarch in 
the reigu of David. He 
sustained a dreadful de¬ 
feat by the Israelites. 

2 Sam. x. 

Hanun. 

Ammonites. 

He insulted David by 
abusing his ambassadors. 

2 Kings viii. 

Hazael. 

Syria. 

An officer of Benhadadwho 
smothered his master and 
usurped his throne. lie 
was extremely cruel, and j 
a great pest to both Judah 
and Israel. 

Matt. ii. 12-16. 

Herod (1.) 

Judaea. 

Called Herod the Great; 
son of Antipater, an Idu- 
mean nobleman. He was 
declared King of Judaea 
by the sanction of Au¬ 
gustus Caesar, b. c. 30. 


* 


lie was the founder of 
several cities, and rebuilt 
the temple. He was the 
murderer of the children 
at Bethlehem. 

“ xiv. 

Ilerod Antipas(2.) 

Galilee & Perea 

Son of Herod the Great,and 
Tetrarcli of Galilee and 
Perea. He married his 
brother’s wife, murdered 
John the Baptist, and 
mocked Jesus.Lukexxiii. 

Acts xii. 

Herod Agrippttf3.) 

« 

Nephew of Herod Antipas, 
and grandson of Herod 
the Great, being the son 
of Aristobulus, who was 
murdered by his father. 
He murdered the apostle 
James, and sought the 
life of Peter. This pre¬ 
sumptuous prince died 
awfully by the visitation 
of God. 

2 Sam v. 

Hiram (1.) 

Tyre. 

He sent an embassy to 
David on his accession, 
which led to an alliance. 
He considerably aided 
David with materials and 
workmen when he built 
his palace. 

1 Kings v., ix., x.; 
1 Chron. ii.: 

Hiram (2.) 

ii 

Grandson of the above, he 
ascended his throne in 

2 Chron. viii. 

• 

\ 

the last year of David, 
and was the ally of Solo- 


% 


mon, whom be greatly as¬ 
sisted in buildingthe tem¬ 
ple and carrying on his 
commercial enterprises. 

.Tosh . vi. 1. 

Jabin (1.) 

Hazor in Ca- 

Defeated by Joshua in the 


naan. 

battle of Merom, when 
attempting with a power¬ 
ful alliance to oppose his 
progress. 






















266 


HEATHEN MONARCHS 


Scriptures. 
Judges iv. 


Isaiah xxxix.; 
2 Kings xx. 12. 
1 Sam. xi. 


2 Sam. xvii. 27; 
— xxii. 

2 Kings xxiv.; 
Daniel ii., iii., iv. 

2 Kings xxv. 1; 
Jer. xxxix. 1; 
Eaek. xxix. 
Numb. xxi. 
Deut. iii. 

Gen. xii. 15, &c. 


— xxxix., &c. 
Exod. i., ii. 


— iii., xv. 


1 Kings xi. 1. 


1 Kings iii. 1; 
— ix. 16. 


1 Kings xi. xiv.; 

2 Chron. xii. 


2 Kings xvii. 4. 

2 Kings xviii. 21; 

— xxiii. 29, &o. 
2Chr’n.xxxv.20,&c 
Jer. xliv. 30. 


Kings. 


Countries. 


Remarks. 


Jabin (2.) 


Canaan. 


Merodach-Baladan Babylonian. 
Nahash (1.) Ammonites. 


Nahash (2.) 

ic 

Nebuchadnezzar. 

Babylonia 

Nebuchadnezzar. 

ii 

Og. 

Bashan. 

Pharaoh (1.) 

Egypt. 

Pharaoh (2.) 

ii 

Pharaoh (3.) 

ii 

Pharaoh (4.) 

ii 

Pharaoh (5.) 

ii 

Pharaoh (6.) 

ii 

Pharaoh (7.) 

ii 

Pharaoh (8). 

ii 

Pharaoh (9.) 

ii 

Pharaoh-necho 

(10.) 

u 

Pharaoh-hophra. 

(11.) 

a 


Supposed graudson of the 
former, defeated by De¬ 
borah and Barak; and 
Sisera his commander, 
slain by Jael. 

A king friendly to Heze- 
kiah. 

He besieged Jabesh-Gilead, 
and proposed a surrender 
on cruel conditions. Saul 
attacked and completely 
destroyed his army. Some 
say he was killed in the 
battle, but no evidence of 
it exists. Some think he 
was the friend of David, 1 
Sam. x., 1 Chron. xix., but 
others consider that to be 
another Nahash. 

Thought to have been son 
of the above, friendly to 
David. 

A haughty despot, employ¬ 
ed by God to execute his 
judgments; he set up the 
golden image, &c. 

The same king; compare 
the texts. 

A giant of the race of Re- 
pliaim, conquered and 
slain by Moses. 

A titular name, long given 
to the earlykings of Egypt 
known to Abraham. 

The friend of Joseph. 

The oppressors of the Is¬ 
raelites ; supposed to have 
been Ramses. 

He perished in the Red 
Sea, supposed to have 
been Amenophis. 

Who protected Hadad the 
Edmonite in the earlypart 
of the reign of David. 
Thought to have been Va- 
phres, or Osochos, whose 
daughter was married to 
Solomon. 

Pharaoh Shishak. See Shi- 
shak, as his name does 
not occur in Scripture as 
Pharaoh. 

Pharaoh So. For the same 
reason, see So. 

An ally of king Hezekiah. 

He slew king Josiah in 
battle. 

The ally of Zedekiah, king 
of Judah. 

























HEATHEN 

MONARCHS. 267 

Scriptures. 

Kings. 

Countries. 

Remarks. 

2 Kings xv. 19,20. 

Pul. 

Nineveh. 

The first sovereign of Nin¬ 
eveh, whose name we 
know. For a large re¬ 
ward he established Me- 
nahem on the throne of 
Israel. 

2 Kings xv., xvi.; 

2 Chron. xxviii. 

Rezin. 

Syria. 

He combined with Pekah, 
king of Israel, to invade 
Judah in the reign of 
Ahaz, in which he was 
successful. 

2 Kings xix. 

Sennacherib. 

Assyria. 

Son and successor of Shal- 
manezer. He invaded Ju¬ 
dea in the days of Ileze- 

\ 



kiah, and his army of 
185,000 was cut off by the 
visitation of God in one 
night. 

2 Kings xvii. 3. 

Shalmaneser. 

He succeeded Tiglath-Pile- 
ser, and preceded Senna¬ 
cherib. He carried Israel 
into captivity in the days 
of King Hoshea. 

1 Kings x.; 

2 Chron. ix. 

Sheba, Queen of. 

Egypt. 

Her name unknown ; sup¬ 
posed to have been a 
queen of Arabia, or Ethio¬ 
pia. 

1 Kings xiv. 25. 

Shishak. 

He invaded the territory 
of Rehoboam, king of 
Judah, and carried away 
Solomon’s treasures. 

Numb. xxi. 21, &c. 

Sihon. 

Amorites. 

Refused a passage to the 
Israelites, attacked them, 
was defeated, and slain. 

— xvii. 4. 

So. 

Egypt. 

He became the ally of Ho¬ 
shea, king of Israel, but 
rendered him no aid when 
Shalmanezer subverted 
his kingdom. 

2 Kings xvi. 

1 

i 

Tiglath-Pilesor. 

Assyria. 

In profane history Arba- 
ces, successor of Sard ana- 
pal us. predecessor of Shal¬ 
manezer. He killed Re¬ 
zin, king of Syria,and car¬ 
ried his people into cap¬ 
tivity; ravaged Judea, 
and commenced the cap¬ 
tivity of Israel by carry¬ 
ing away the two tribes 
and a half. 

- XIX. 

Tirhakah. 

Ethiopia 

He went with a powerful 
army to relieve tlezekiah, 
when attacked by Senna¬ 
cherib, who was routed 
before he arrived. 

2 Sam. viii. 9-11. 

Toi. 

Hamath. 

Who sent congratulations 
and presents to David, 
when he had conquered 
Hadadezer. 

- 


















^(jtjBtrnl -/intros nf 'j^itltstinr. 

SHOWING THE PROGRESS OF THE SEASONS, THE PREVAILING 'WINDS, AND WEATHER, FOR 

EACH MONTH IN THE TEAR. 

Jan. 

PROGRESS OF THE SEASONS. 

WIND. 

WEATHER. 

Country verdant with young corn, 
groves and meadows adorned with 
many flowers. Oranges begin to 
ripen. 

N. W., N., N. E. 

Heavy rains; th under 
storms. Occasionally 
snow, and thin ice; 
ground never frozen. 

Feb. 

Almond-tree and peach-tree in blos¬ 
som: in the lower and warmer 
parts, orange-tree laden with ripe 
fruit. 

N. W., N., N. E. 

Heavy rains, etc., in 
Jan. and Feb., called 
by tj^e Arabs the 
“ fathers of rain.” 

March. 

All trees in full leaf, many in bloom. 
In the lowlands, orange and lem¬ 
on-trees laden with fruits. Palm- 
tree blossoms: barley ripening. 

W. 

Rain, hurricanes, 

sometimes snow; 
rivers much swol- j 
len. 

April. 

Fruits of oleaster and white mul¬ 
berry ripen. Barley harvest. 
Wheat harvest beginning. 

S. 

Occasionally rain; 

sometimes Sirocco 
from the s. e. 

i 

•IbK 

1 

Principal harvest month, especial¬ 
ly of wheat. Apricots and apples 
ripen, (in Jordan valley vegeta¬ 
tion withered and burnt up). 

s. 

llain very seldom; 1 
from this to Sep- ! 
tember no rain oo- ‘ 
curs. j 

June* 

Almonds ripe. (Beyrouk honey of 
the Jordan valley collected in 
May, June, and July.) Grapes 
begin to ripen. 

E. 

Frequent hot winds, i 
(Simoons :) air mo- j 
tionless. j 

July. 

Various fruits : apples, pears, plums, 
etc. Grapes fully ripe. Pump¬ 
kins. Harvest of corn in the 
higher mountains. 

E. 

Greatest heat in gen¬ 
eral; sky serene. 

Aug. 

Principal fruit month. Grapes, 
figs, etc.; in the plains, walnut 
and olive. 

E. 

Dews begin to fall; at 
times large and dense 
clouds, (Nile clouds). 

Sept. 

- 

Commencement of vintage. Har¬ 
vest of the dourra and maize. 
Cotton and pomegranate begins. 

N. E. 

Much lightning with¬ 
out thunder; very 
rarely raiu. 

1 

I o 
: © • 

End of vintage. Gathering of 
cotton. Ploughing and sowing 
commence. Pistachio-nuts ripen. 

N. E. 

Dews very heavy; 
autumnal rains be¬ 
gin. 

> 

o 

& 

Month of ploughing and sowing. 
Rice harvest. Fig-tree laden 
with fruit. Orange and citron- 
tree in bloom. 

N. W., N., N. E. 

Rainy month. Thun¬ 
der storms. Rains 
from the w. or s. w. 

i i 

i « 

i 

1_ 

Trees lose their leaves. The brown 
and desolate plains and deserts 
become green pastures. 

N. W., N., N. E. 

Rainy, etc. In Dec., 
Jan., and Feb., great¬ 
est amount of rain 
in the year. 


268 



































































I % 


« * 


Sliumtt Capitals aiitr JUaatantit Citits. 


; 

Scripture Names. 

Country. 

Ezra vi. 2. 

Achmetha. 

Persia. 

Aots xxvii. 6. 

Alexandria. 

Egypt. 


• 

— xvii. 1. 

Amphipolis 

Greece. Paul 
sailed from this 
city to Rome. 

— xi. 19, 26. 

Antioch. 

Syria. 

— xiii. 14; 

Ditto. 

Asia Minor. 

—xiv. 19. 



Numbers xxi. 28; 

Ar. 

Moab. 

Deut. ii. 9, 29; 
Isaiah xv. 1. 



2 Sam. i. 20. 

Askelon. 

Palestine. 

2 Kings, xvii. 24. 

Babylon. 

Chaldea. 

. 



1 Sam. xxxi. 10. 

Beth-shan. 

Syria. 

Matt. ii. 1; 

Bethlehem, or 

Palestine. 

Mic. v. 2. 

Bethlehem Eph- 
ratah. 


Isaiah lxiii. 1, &c. 

Bozrah. 

Ditto. 

Acts x. xii., xxiv. 

Caesarea, (Pales- 
tina.) which dis- 

Ditto. 


tinguishes this 
city from Caesar 



rea Philippi. 

* 

Gen. xv. 2; 

Damascus. 

Syria. 

Aots ix. 

i 




Remarks. 


In the royal palace here, 
were found the records cf 
Cyrus’s decree for re¬ 
building Jerusalem. 

Founded by Alexander the 
Great, B. c. 332. 

Visited by Paul and Silas. 


The capital of Upper Syria. 
Here the disciples were 
first called Christians. 

The capital of Pisidia. 

Here Paul was stoned. 
The capital of Moab; de¬ 
stroyed by an earth¬ 
quake, a. D. 350. 

A city of the Philistines, 
seat of one of their five 
states. 

The ancient royal city of 
Assyria, erected on the 
site of the tower of Ba¬ 
bel. To this city Shal- 
manezer carried the chil¬ 
dren of Israel captive. 

A principal city of the De- 
capolis, on the walls of 
which the Philistines 
fastened the bodies of 
Saul and his sons. 

A small city of Judah, 
where Christ was born, 
and where David was 
crowned king by Samuel. 
A chief city of the Edom¬ 
ites. 

The Roman metropolis of 
Palestine, and residence 
of the procurator. Here 
Cornelius, the first-fruits 
of the Gentiles, was con¬ 
verted ; here Paul plead¬ 
ed before Felix and' Fes- 
tus and king A|rippa; an i 
in its amphitheatre Ho- 
rod Agrippa awfully ex¬ 
pired. Herod the Great 
built this city twenty 
years before Christ. 

The ancient capital of Sy¬ 
ria, and the oldest exist 
ing city in the world. 


26 * 


269 


















270 ANCIENT CAPITALS AND RENOWNED CITIES. 


Scripture Names. 

Country. 

Remarks. 

Acts xix.; 

Ephesus. 

Greece. 

The capital of Ionia. Here 

Rev. ii. 

• 


was the renowned temple 
of Diana, and here one 
of the seven churches. 

1 Sam. xxi. 10. 

Gath. 

Palestine 

A fortified city of the Phi¬ 
listines. Here David 
feigned himself mad be¬ 
fore king Achish. 

Judges xvi. 1, 3. 

Gaza. 

Ditto. 

A principal city of the 
Philistines, the gates of 
which Samson carried 
away. 

Josh. x. 33. 

Gezer. 

f 

Ditto. 

The king and all his army 
were defeated by Joshua. 

— ii. 1. 

Jericho. 

Ditto. 

The first city taken in Ca¬ 
naan by Joshua. 

1 Chron. xi. 4; 
Josh. xv.63; 
Gen. xiv. 18; 
Isaiah xxix. 1, 2. 

Jerusalem; called 
Jebus; 

Salem; and 

Ariel. 

Ditto. 

The capital of J udea. 

1 Kings xxi. 

Jezreel. 

Ditto. 

In this city some of the 
kings of Israel had a pa¬ 
lace, particularly Ahab. 
It was in the centre ot 
Canaan. 

Hos. ix. 6. 

Memphis. 

Egypt. 

The residence of the kings 
of Egypt in the days of 
the Ptolemies. 

Luke ii. 39. 

• 

Nazareth. 

Palestine. 

A small city, where Christ 
dwelt tHl he was thirty 
years of age, and in the 
synagogue of which he 
preached. 

Jon. i. 2. 

Nineveh. 


Now a part of Turkey, an¬ 
ciently the metropolis of 
Assyria. 

1 Sam. xxi., xxii. 

Nob. 

Palestine. 

A city of the Levites, where 
king Saul massacred the 
priests and their families 

Isaiah xix. 13. 

Noph, (see Mem¬ 
phis.) 

... 

Gen. xli. 45. 

On, (or Heliopolis.) 

••• 

Joseph married the daugh¬ 
ter of the High Priest of 
that city. 

Rev. i. 11; 

— ii. 12. 

Pergamos. 

• •• 

A city of Asia Minor, famed 
for a temple to Escula- 
pius, the god of medi¬ 
cine. One of the seven 
churches was here. 

— i. 11. 

Philadelphia. 

Ancient Lydia, 
Now Turkey. 

One of the seven churches 
was here. 

Exod. i. 11. 

Pithom. 

Egypt. 

An Egyptian store city, 
built by the captive Is¬ 
raelites. 

2 Sam. xii. 26. 

Rabbah or Rab- 

Palestine. 

The capital city of the 

i- 

bath. 


Ammonites, besieged by 
Joab, and taken by Da¬ 
vid. 





























ANCIENT CAPITALS AND RENOWNED CITIES. 271 



Scripture Names. 

Countries. 

Remarks. 

Exod. i. 11. 

Rameses. 

Egypt. 

An Egyptian store city, 
built by the, captive Is¬ 
raelites. 

Acts xxviii. 14. 

tome. 

Italy. 

Founded B. c. 753 : the ca¬ 
pital of the ancient Ro¬ 
man empire. Here Paul 
dwelt two whole years. 

— xiij. 5, &c. 

Salamis. 

Greece. 

(Chief city of the island of 
’ Cyprus, where Sergius 
Radius, the Roman Go¬ 
vernor, was converted by 
Paul. 

1 Kings xvi. 24. 

— XX. 1. 

Samaria. 

Syria. 

The capital of the kingdom 
of Israel, built by king 
Omri. 

Rev. iii. 1-6. 

Sardis. 

Turkey. 

The capital of ancient 
Lydia, famous for its rich 
pagan king, Croesus. One 
of the seven churches. 

Dan. viii. 2; 

Esth. iii. 15. 

Shushan. 

Persia. 

The royal city of Persia, 
for the winter residence 
of its kings. 

Gen. x. 15, 19; 

Sidon. 

Palestine. 

The celebrated commercial 

— xlix. 13. 


Egypt. 

city and capital of the 
Phoenicians, built soon 
after the deluge, by Si¬ 
don, son of Canaan. 

A strong city of the an¬ 
cient Pelusium. 

Ezek. xxx. 15, 16. 

Sin. 

Rev. i. 11. 

— ii. 8. 

Smyrna. 

Syria. 

A city of Asia Minor. One 
of the seven churches of 
Asia. 

Ezek. xxix. 10. 

— xxx. 6. 

Syene. 

Egypt 

The most southern city of 
the Thebais, bordering on 
Nubia. 

1 Kings ix. 18. 

Tadmor, (Palmy- 

Syria. 

Built or rebuilt as a store 

2 Chron. viii. 4. 

ra.) 

Egypt 

city, by Solomon. 

Jer. ii. 16. 

Tahapanes, 
(Daphne Pelu- 
sicae.) 

A royal city of Egypt, 
where the principal Jews 
retired when Jerusalem 
was desolated by Nebu¬ 
chadnezzar. 

Acts xvii. 1. 

Thessalonica. 

Turkey. 

A city and sea-port of Ma¬ 
cedonia. 

— xvi. 14 

Thyatira. 

Ditto. 

i 

A city of Asia Minor. One 
of the seven churches of 
Asia; famous for dyeing 
purple. 

1 Kings xiv. 17. 

Tirzah. 

Palestine. 

A royal city, where several 
kings of Israel resided. 

Isaiah xxiii. 

Ezek. xxvii. 

Tyre. 

Ditto. 

A celebrated city and seat 
of Phoenician commerce. 





























llraitrkalilt Jfimmtaraj ani fills. 



Scriptures Names. 

Country. 

Remarks. 

Numb, xxxiii. 48. 

Abarim. 

Palestine. 

On this range of mountains 
Balak tempted Balaam 
to curse Israel. 

Gen. vii. 4. 

Ararat. 

Armenia. 

Here the ark rested at the 
deluge. 

Isa. lxviii. 15. 

Bashan. 

Palestine. 

Remarkable for its height. 

Luke xxiii. 33. 

« 

Calvary. 


A common plac^of execu¬ 
tion, where Christ was 
crucified. 

1 Kings xviii. 19. 

Carmel. 

it 

On this mount Elijah had 
his trial against the 
priests of Baal. 

Joshua viii. 30. 

Ebal. 

u 

Here Moses pronounced 
twelve curses against the 
disobedient. 

1 Sam. i. 1. 

Ephraim. 

“ * 

This mount was the birth¬ 
place of Samuel. 

Joshua viii. 32. 

Gerizim. 

u 

Here Moses pronounced 
twelve blessings. 

Here Joshua wrote the 
law on stone. 

• 

• 


Here Jotham delivered his 
parable. 

1 Sam. xxxi. 1. 

Gilboa. 

« 

Here Saul and his sons fell 
in battle with the Philis¬ 
tines. 

Gen. xxxi. 21. 

Gilead. 

« 

On this mount Laban 
overtook Jacob, and 
searched for his images. 

1 Sam. xxiii. 19. 

Hachilah. 

u 

On this hill David hid 
awhile from Saul. 

Ps. cxxxiii. 3. 

Ilermon. 

a 

Celebrated for its dews. 

Dent, xxxii. 49. 

Nebo. 

a 

From this mount Moses 
viewed the promised land. 

Matt. xxiv. 3 

©lives, or Olivet, 

u 

Here Christ preached his 

John viii. 1. 

the ancient name. 


sermon. 

1 Sam. xv. 30. 



By this mount David es¬ 
caped from the conspiracy 
of Absalom. 

Numb, xxiii. 28. 

Peor. 

« 

Here Balaam blessed in¬ 
stead of cursing Israel. 

Deut. xxxiv, 1. 

Pisgah. 


The highest point of mount 
Nebo, where Moses stood 
to view the good land. 

1 Kings xvi. 24. 

Samaria. 

« 

On this hill Omri built the 
city. 

Ahab was buried here. 


























REMARKABLE RIVERS AND LAKES. 273 \ 



Scripture Names. 

Country. 

Remarks. 

Gen. xiv. 6. 

Seir or Hor. 

Palestine. 

Belonged first to the Ho- 
rites, and was afterward 
given to Edom. 

iExod. xix. 18. 

Sinai. 

Arabia 

Here the law was given. 

Judges iv. 6. 

Tabor. 

Palestine. 

Here Deborah and Barak 
collected 10,000 men to 
attack Sisera. 



lltmnrknlile Ilians nnb Late. 


. 

Name. 

Country. 

Why remarkable. 

’2 Kings v. 12. 

Abana. 

Damascus. 

Commended bv N.aaman. 

jjohn iii. 22, 23. 

iEnon. 

Palestine. 

Here John baptized. 

'Ezra viii. 15, 21. 

Ahava. 

Media. 

Here Ezra proclaimed a 

.Judges xi. 18. 

Arnon. 

Syria. 

fast prior to returning 
from captivity. 

The boundary of Moab. 

Ezek. i. 1. 

Chebar. 

Ancient Chal- 

Near this river Ezekiel saw 

i 


dea. 

his first vision. 

’Ezek. xlvii. 18. 

East Sea, (see Salt 

Syria. 

Salt (or Dead) sea. 

i 

Sea, Sea of the 
Plain.) 

•Josh. xv. 4. 

Egypt, Kiver of. 

Egypt. 


.Gen. ii. 14. 

Euphrates. 

Babylonia. 

A principal river of Eden. 

; Matt. iv. 18. 
j.Tohn vi. 1, or 
[Numb, xxxiv. 11. 

Luke v. 1. 

Galilee, Sea of, Ti¬ 
berias. Cinneroth 
or Chinnereth. 

Gennesaret. 

Palestine. 

Miraculous draught of 

Gen. ii. 13. 

Gihon. 

Persia. 

fishes. 

Second river in Eden. 

Matt. iii. 5, 6, 13. 

Jordan. 

(( 

Christ baptized in the 

2 Kings v. 12. 

Pharpar, (now 

Damascus. 

river—the principal one 
in Palestine. 

Commended by Naaman. 

Gen. ii. 11. 

Barrada.) 

Pison. 

Persia. 

The first river of Paradise. 

Deut. iv. 49. 

Plain, Sea of, (see 
East and Salt 
Seas.) 

Red Sea. 

Palestine 

♦ 

Exod. xiii. 18; xiv 

Arabia. 

Here Pharaoh’s host was 

27. 

Numb, xxxiv. 3. 

Isa. xxiii. 3. 

Salt Sea, (see East 
Sea.) 

Sihor, (the Nile.) 

Egypt. 

drowned. 



































■s 





Scripture Names. 

Subjects. 

Gen. 24. 

Abraham’s servant. 

Success in his mission. 

— 32. 

Jacob. 

Protection against Esau. 

Exod. 32. 

Moses. 

Forgiveness for idolatrous Israel. 

— 33. 

ii 

For the Divine presence. 

Num. Tl. 

ii 

For Miriam, when smitten with leprosy. 

For pardon for Israel murmuring at the 

- 14. 

a 

Deut. 3. 

ii 

reports of the spies. 

To enter Canaan. 

Judges 16. 

Samson. 

To be avenged on his enemies. 

1 Sam. 1. 

Hannah. 

For a man-child. 

2 Sam. 7. 

David. 

Prayer and thanksgiving after Nathan’s 

1 Kings 8. 

• 

Solomon. 

message concerning his intention to build 
the temple. 

Dedication of temple. 

— 18. 

Elijah. 

In contest with priests of Baal. 

2 Kings 19. 

Hezekiah. 

Protection against Sennacherib. 

— 20. 

ii 

When dangerously ill. 

1 Chron. 4. 

Jabez. 

For the Divine blessing. 

2 Chron. 6. 

Solomon. 

(See above, 1 Kings viii.) 

— 14. 

Asa. 

When going to battle with Zerah the Ethio- 

— 20. 

Jehoshaphat. 

pian. 

For protection against the armies of the 

— 30. 

Hezekiah. 

Moabites and Ammonites. 

For the unprepared for keeping the pass- 

Ezra 9. 

Ezra. 

over. 

Confession of sin in the people’s alliances 

Neh. 1. 

Nehemiah. 

with the heathen. 

For the remnant in captivity. 

— 4 . 

a 

For protection against Sanballat and To- 

— 9. 

Levites. 

biah. 

Confession of God’s goodness, and their na 

Prov. 29. 

Agur. 

tion’s sins. 

For moderation in his desires. 

Isa. 37. 

Hezekiah. 

(See above. 2 Kings xix.) 

— 38. 

ii 

(See above. 2 Kings xx.) 

Jer. 14. 

Jeremiah. 

In a great famine. 

Pan. 9. 

Daniel. 

For the restoration of Jerusalem. 

Jonah 2, 

Jonah. 

For deliverance from the fish. 

Hab. 3. 

Habakkuk. 

For revival of God’s work. 

Matt. 6. 

— 26. 

Lord’s Prayer. 

Jesus. 

Under suffering in Gethsemane. 

i ~ 27 - 

ii 

Suspension of Divine consolation 

Luke 11. 

— 18 

Lord’s Prayer. 
Publican’s prayer. 

For Divine mercy. 

— 22 

Jesus. 

(See above, Matt, xxvi.) 

— 23. 

ii 

For his murderers. 

— 23. 

Dying thief. 

To be remembered by Jesus. 

John 12. 

Jesus. 

Imploring his Father’s aid. 

— 17. 

ii 

For himself, his apostles, and all believers. 

Acts 1. 

Apostles. 

On choosing an apostle. 

— 4. 

Primitive church. 

For support under persecution. 


274 


















Sllnstrahit. 


€jjt Inri’H $ratjn 

Our Father. —Isaiah Ixiii. 16. 

1. By right of creation. Malachi ii. 10. 

2. By bountiful provision. Psalms cxlv. 16. 

3. By gracious adoption. Ephesians i. 5. 

Who art in Heaven. —1 Kings viii. 43. 

1. The throne of thy glory. Isaiah lxvi. 1. 

2. The portion of thy children. 1 Peter i. 4. 

3. The temple of thy angels. Isaiah vi. 1. 

Hallowed he thy Name. —Psalms cxv. 1. 

1. By the thoughts of our hearts. Psalms lxxxvi. 11. 

2. By the words of our lips. Psalms li. 15. 

3. By the works of our hands. 1 Corinthians x. 31. 

Thy Kingdom come. —Psalms cx. 2. 

1. Of Providence to defend us. Psalms xvii. 8. 

2. Of grace to refine us. 1 Thessalonians v. 23. 

3. Of glory to crown us. Colossians iii. 4. 

Thy will be done on Earth cos it is in Heaven. —Acts xxi. 14 . 

1. Towards us, without resistance. 1 Samuel iii. 18. 

2. By us, without compulsion. Psalms cxix. 36. 

3. Universally, without exception. Luke i. 6. 

4. Eternally, without declension. Psalms cxix. 93. 

Give us this Day our daily Bread. 

1. Of necessity, for our bodies. Proverbs xxx. 8. 

2. Of eternal life, for our souls. John, vi. 34. 

And forgive us our trespasses. —Psalms xxv. 11. 

1. Against the commands of thy law. 1 John iii. 4. 

2. Against the grace of thy gospel. 1 Timothy i. 13. 

.As we forgive them that trespass against us. —Matthew vi. 15. 

1. By defaming our characters. Matthew v. 11. 

2. By embezzling our property. Philemon 18. 

3. By abusing our persons. Acts vii. 60. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.— Matthew xxvi. 41. 

1. Of overwhelming afflictions. Psalms cxxx. 1. 

2. Of worldly enticements. 1 John ii. 15. 

3. Of Satan’s devices. 1 Timothy iii. 7. 

4. Of error’s seduction. 1 Timothy vi. 10. 

5. Of sinful affections. Romans i. 26. 

Jbr thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever: —Jude 2& 

1. Thy kingdom governs all. Psalms ciii. 19. 

2. Thy power subdues all. Philipians iii. 20, 21. 

3. Thy glory is above all. Psalms cxlviii. 13. 

Amen. —Ephesians i. 11. 

1. As it is in thy purposes. Isaiah xiv. 27. 

2. So is it in thy promises. 2 Corinthians i. 20. 

3. So be it in our prayers. Revelation xxh. 20. 

4. So shall it be to thy praise. Revelation xix. 4. 

275 


\ 






ptalirnl Inngttngt nsti tig tlje Jftmts anil 

^rnpjjrts. 


Texts. 

Symbols. 

Meanings. 

Jer. iii. 8, 9; v. 7. 

Adultery. 

Idolatry. 

i Rev. i. 20; ii. 1, Ac. 

Angel. 

Messenger, hence minister. 

Ps. x. 15. 

Arm. 

Power. 

Ezra xxx. 21, Ac. 



j Job vi. 4. 

Arrows. 

Judgments. 

; Rev. xvii. 18. 

Babylon. 

Rome. 

• Dan. vii. 17. 

Beast. 

A tyrannical heathen monarch. 

i Job xxx. 30. 

Black. 

Affliction — anguish. 

[ Joel ii. C. 


I Isa. xxix. 18. 

Blindness. 

Ignorance. 

i Rom. xi. 25. 



i Isa. xxxiv. 3. 

Blood. 

Slaughter — death. 

1 Ezek. xxxii. 6. 


Job xviii. 15. 

Brimstone. 

Desolation — torments. 

Rev. xiv. 10. 



! Rev. xxi. 9. 

Bride. 

The church of Christ. 

; John iii. 29. 

Bridegroom. 

Christ, wedded to his church. 

1 Ps. xxii. 12, Ac. 

Bulls. 

Violent enemies. 

: Rev. ii. 10. 

Candlestick. 

Church. 

i Ps. lxviii. 18, Ac. 

Chariots. 

Heavenly hosts. 

, James i. 12. 

Crown. 

Victory — reward. 

Rev. ii. 10. 


Ps. xxiii. 5. 

: Isa. Ii. 17. 

Cup. 

Divine blessings. 

Divine judgments 

| Jer. xxiii. 1. 

Amos iv. 13. 

Darkness. 

Misery — adversity—ignorance. 

Rom. xiii. 12. 



! Isa. xxxiv. 8, &c. 

Rev. ii. 10, Ac. 

Day. 

An indefinite time—a prophetic 
year — gospel period. 

1 Thess. v. 5, Ac. 


: Matt. xv. 26. 

! Rev. xxi. 8. 

Dogs. 

Gentiles—impure persons—per¬ 
secutors. 

Ps. xxii. 16. 



1 Cor. xvi. 9. 

Door. 

An opening. 

Rev. xii. 9. 

Dragon. 

Satan. 

Isa. xxix. 9. 

Drunkenness. 

Effects of Divine judgments. 

Rev. vi. 12, Ac. 

Earthquakes. 

Revolutions. 

Prov. xv. 3, Ac. 

Eyes. 

Knowledge. 

Ps. xxxvi. 16, Ac. 

Face. 

The Divine fervor. 

Jer. v. 28. 

Fat. 

Abundance. 

Isa. xlii. 25, &c. 

Fire. . 

Judgments. 

Rev. vii. 3, Ac. 

Forehead. 

Furnace. 

A public profession. 

Jer. xi. 4. 

Affliction. 

Rev. iii. 4, Ac. 

Garments. 

Outward appearance. 

Ps. cxlvii. 13. 

Gates. 

Power — security. 

Job xii. 18. 

Girdles. 

Strength. 

Matt. xxv. 33. 

Goats. 

Wicked persons. 

Ezek. xxxviii. 2. 

Gog and Magog. 

God’s enemies. 

— xxxix. 11. 

Rev. xx. 8. 




276 






















SYMBOLICAL LANGUAGE 


277 


Texts. 

Symbols. 

Meanings. 

Rev. viii. 7. 

Grass. 

The lower orders, opposed to 
trees, the higher orders. 

Divine vengeance. 

— xi. 19. 

Hail. 

Ps. xviii. 35. 

Hand, right 

Protection — support. 

— lxxiii. 23. 


Ezek. viii. 1. 

Hand of the Lord. 

Divine influence. 

Joel iii. 13. Ac. 

Harvest. 

A time of destruction. 

Eph. i. 23, Ac. 

Head. 

Rule or ruler. 

Isa. xiii. 33. 

Heavens. 

Political or ecclesiastical govern- 

Hag. ii. 2, 21. 

Zech. x. 23. 

Horse; 

ments. 

War and conquest. 

Matt. v. 6. 

Hunger and thirst. 

Spiritual desires. 

Kev. v. 8. 

Incense. 

Prayer. 

Ps. cxx. 6. 

Jerusalem. • 

Church of God. 

Heb. xii. 22, Ac. 

Rev. i. 18. 

Keys, 

The heavenly state. 

Power and authority. 

1 Kings xv. 4. 

Lamp. 

A successor or offspring. 

Ps. cxxxii. 17. 


Esther viii.'16. 

Light. 

Joy — prosperity. 

Isa. viii. 20. 


Knowledge — bitternesss. 

Eph. v. 8, Ac. 


Zech. iv. 7. 

Moon, [see Sun.] 
Mountain. 

A state — Christ’s church. 

Isa. ii. 2. 



Rom. xvi. 25, Ac. 

Mystery. 

Not a thing unintelligible, but 

Rev. iii. 17. 

Naked. 

never before made plain. 

In the sinful state of nature. 

Isa. xxi. 12. 

Night. 

Adversity—affliction—ignorance. 

Rev. xxi. 25. 


Isa. ii. 13. 

Oaks. 

Men of rank and power. 

Ps. xxiii. 5. 

Oil. 

Abundance — fertility —joy. 

xcii. 11, Ac. 


Rev. vii. 5. 

Palms. 

Victory. 

Luke xxiii. 43. 

Paradise. 

Heaven. 

Rev. ii. 7. 



Ps. xviii. 2. 

Rock. 

A secure refuge. 

— ii. 9, Ac. 

Rod. 

Authority — correction. 

Job ix. 34, Ac. 


Col. iv. 6, Ac. 

Salt. 

Purity — barrenness. 

Deut. xxix. 23. 


Isa. Ii. 42. 

Sea in commotion. 

An army. 

Sol. Song, iv. 12. 

Seal. 

Security — secresy. 

Isa. xxix. 11. 


Gen. iii. J, Ac. 

Serpent. 

The devil. 

2 Cor xi. 3. 

Rev. xii. 9. 


John x. 11, 16, Ac. 

Sheep. 

Christ’s disciples. 

Nahum iii. 18. 

Shepherds. 

Rulers, civil or ecclesiastical. 

Ezek. xxxiv. 2, Ac. 
Ps. lxxxiv. 9. 

Shield. 

• 

Defence — protection. 

Eph. vi. 16. 


1 'Ehess. iv. 14. 

Sleep. 

Death. 

Isa. i. 6, Ac. 

Sores. 

Spiritual maladies. 

Num. xxiv. 17, Ac • 

Star. 

A prince or ruler. 

Joel ii. 31. Ac. 

Sun,moon,and stars. 

The various governors in a state. 

Isa. xxxiv. 5. 

Sword. 

War and slaughter. 

Ezek. xxi. 3, Ac. 



Deut. xxviii. 13. 

Tail. 

Subjection — degradation. 

Prov. xxx. 14. 

Teeth. 

Cruelty. 


24 


l 

























278 


SELAH 


Texts. 

Symbols. 

Meanings. 

Gen. xii. 4, &c. 

Throne. 

Kingdom or government. 

Jer. iv. 31. 

Travail. 

Anguish — anxiety. 

Gal. iv. 19. 


Zech. ii. 1, 2. 

Trees. 

The great and noble. 

Ps. lxxx. 8, &c. 

Vine. 

The church of God. 

Isa. v. 1, &c. 

Vineyard. 

U U U 

Ezek. iii. 17. 

W atch tower. 

The prophets. 

Ps. lxix. 1. 

Isa. viii. 7, &c. 

Waters. 

Afflictions — multitudes — ordi- 
» nances. 

lv.l, 



Dan. ix. 24. 

Week. 

Seven years. 

Rev. xii. 6. 

Wilderness. 

Afflicted state. 

Isa. xxviii. 8. 

Wind. 

Judgments—destructive war. 

Jer. li. 1. 


Isa. xxv. 6. 

Iv. 1, &c. 

Ps. lx. 3, &c. 

Wine. 

Spiritual blessings—Divine judg¬ 
ments. 

Isa. lxiii. 3. 

Winepress. 

Slaughter. 

Rev. xiv. 19. 



Ps. xvii. 8, &c. 

Wings. 

Protection. 

Isa. xi. 6. 

Wolves. 

Eurious, ungodly persons. 

lxv. 25. 


Ezek. xxvi. 2, 3. 

Rev. xii. 1. 

Woman. 

City, or body politic. 

The Church of Christ. 

Deut. xxviii. 48. 

Yoke. 

Labour — restraint. 

Matt. xi. 29, 30. 



Lam. iii. 27 




The translators of the Bible have left the Hebrew word, Selah, which occurs 
so often in the Psalms, as they found it; and, of course, the English reader 
often asks his minister, or some learned friend, what it means. And the 
minister, or learned friend, has most often been obliged to confess ignorance, 
because it is a matter in regard to which the most learned have by no means 
been of one mind. The Targums, and most of the Jewish commentators, give 
to the worcfthe meaning of eternally, for ever. Rabbi Kimcbi regards it as a 
sign to elevate the voice. The authors of the Septuagint translation appear 
to have regarded it as a musical or rythmical note. Herder regards it as indi¬ 
cating a change of tone. Matheson thinks it, as a musical note, equivalent, 
perhaps, to the word, repeat. According to Luther and others, it means 
silence. Gesenius explains it to mean—“ Let the instruments play and the 
singers stop.” Wocher regards it as equivalent to sursum corda, — up, my 
j soul! Sommer, after examining all the seventy-four passages in which the 
word occurs, recognises in every case “an actual appeal or summons to 
Jehovah. They are calls for aid and prayers to be heard, expressed either 
with entire directness, or if not in the imperative, ‘ Hear, Jehovah! or, awake 
Jehovah!’ and the like, still earnest addresses to God that he would remem¬ 
ber and hear,” &c. The word itself he regards as indicating a blast of trumpets 
by the priests. Selah, itself, he thinks an abridged expression used for Hig- : 
gaion Selah — Higgaion indicating the sound of the stringed instrument!, 1 
and Selah a vigorous blast of trumpets. 

























Krtj to tjit ^rnmisM. 


Isa. liv. 11. 

Ps. xxxiv. 19. 

1 Cor. iii. 21, &c. 
Rom. viii. 28. 

Ps. xci. 11. 

Zech. xi. 8. 

Matt. xxi. 22 

— viii. 7. 
John xvi. 24. 
James ii. 5. 
John xvi. 23. 

— xv. 7. 

Matt. xv. 8. 

Rev. xxii. 17. 

— xxi. 6. 

Jer. iii. 12. 

- 22 . 

Hos. xiv. 4. 

2 Chron. xx. 20. 

1 Pet. ii. 6. 

John vii. 38. 

— vi. 47. 

IIos. ii. 19. 

Ps. xxxiv. 18. 

— cxlvii. 3. 

— Ii. 17. 

Isa. xlii. 3. 

Ps. lv. 22. 

Isa. Ixv. 24. 

Jer. xxxiii. 3. 

Ps. xci. 15. 

Zech. xiii. 9. 

Joel ii. 32. 

Rom. x. 13. 

1 Pet. v. 7. 

Eccl. xi. 1. 

Ps. xciv. 14 
John vi. 39. 


Afflicted. 
Afflictions. 
All things. 


Angels. 

Apple of his eye. 
Ask. 


Asketh. 

Athirst. 

Backsliding. 

Backsliding. 

Believe. 

Believeth. 


Betroth. 
Broken heart. 


Broken spirit. 
Bruised reed. 
Burden. 

Call. 


Care. 


Cast. 

Cast off. 
Cometh. 


0 thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, Ac. 

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, Ac. 

All things are yours, Ac. 

All things work together for good, Ac. 

He shall give his angels charge over thee, &c. 

He that toucheth you toucheth the apple, of 
his eye. 

All things,whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer. 

Ask. and it shall he given you. 

Ask, and ye shall receive. 

If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God. 

Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my 
name. Ac. 

Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be 
done unto you, Ac. 

For every one that asketh receiveth, Ac. 

And let him that is athirst, come, Ac. 

1 will give him that is athirst, Ac. 

Return, thou backsliding Israel, Ac. 

Return ye, backsliding children, Ac. 

I will heal their backslidings, Ac. 

Believe on the Lord your God, so shall ye be 
established, Ac. 

He that believeth on him shall not be con¬ 
founded. 

He that believeth on me, as the Scripture 
hath said, out of his belly, Ac. 

He that believeth on the Son hath everlast¬ 
ing life. 

I wBl betroth thee unto me for ever, Ac. 

The Lord is n;gh unto them that are of a 

broken heart. 

He healeth the broken in heart, Ac. 

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. 

The bruised reed shall he not break, Ac. 

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, Ae. 

And it shall come to pass, that before they 
call I will answer, Ac. 

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and 
show thee great, Ac. 

He shall call upon me,and I will answer him. 

They shall call on thy name, and I will hear 
them, Ac. 

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the 
Lord shall be delivered. 

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the 
Lord shall be saved. 

Casting all your care upon him, for he 
careth for you. 

Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou 
shalt fiud it, Ac. 

The Lord will not cast off his people. 

Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast 
out. 


(279) 





























280 


KEY TO THE PROMISES 


Isa. li. 3. 

Isa. li. 13. 

— xii. 1. 

John sir. 16. 

- 18. 

Isa. lvii. 18. 
Rev. xxii. 14. 

John xv. 10. 
Prov. xvi. 3. 
Mic. vii. 19. 


Roto. viii. 1. 



Matt. x. 32. 


Comfort. 

Comforted. 

Comfbrtedst. 

Comforter. 

Comfortless 

Comforts. 

Commandments. 


Commit. 

Compassion. 

Condemnation. 

Confess. 


The Lord will comfort Zion ; he will comfort 
all her waste places. 

God hath comforted his people, and will 
have mercy upon his afflicted. 

Though thou wast angry with me, thine 
anger is turned away, and thou comfort¬ 
edst me. 

I will pray the Father, and he shall give you 
another Comforter, Ac. 

I will not leave you comfmiless, I will come 
to you. 

I will lead him also, and restore comforts to 
him and to his mourners. 

Blessed are they that dp his commandments, 
that they may have right to '‘the tree of 
lilt*. Ac. 

If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide 
in my love. 

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy 
thoughts shall be established. 

He will turn again, he will have compassion 
upon us, Ac. 

There is therefore now no ccmdanna- 
tion, &'c. 

.If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the 
Lord Jesus Christ thou shalt be saved. 

\\ hosoever shall confess me before men, him 
will I confess. &c. 


Prov. xxviii. 13. 
Ps. li. 17. 

Isa. lvii. 15. 

— lxvi. 2. 

Ps. 1. 23. 

Isa. iv. 3. 

Ps. lxxxix. 34. 

1 Pet. v. 4. 

Rev. ii. 10. 

Isa. xxviii. 5. 

Ps. cxlv. 19. 

Isa. xxx 19. 

Ps. xxxiv. 15. 

- 17. 

Isa. lviii. 9. 
Matt. x. 42. 

Isa. 1.10. 

Rev. xiy. 13. 


Confesseth. 

Contrite. 


Conversation. 

Covenant. 

Crown. 


Cry. 


Cup ofcoldwater. 
Darkness. 

Dead. 


W hosoever confesseth and forsaketh his sins 
shall have mercy. 

A broken and a contrite heart, 0 God, thou 
wilt not despise. 

Thus saith the High aud LoftyOne, Ac., even 
with him that is of a humble and contrite 
spirit, &c. 

To this man will I look, even to him that 
is poor and of a contrite spirit. 

To him that ordereth his conversation aright 
will I show the salvation of God. 

And I will make an everlasting covenant with 
you, &c. 

My covenant will I not break. Ac. 

Aud when the chief Shepherd shall appear, 
ye shall receive a crown, Ac. 

Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give 
thee a crown of life. 

In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a 
crown of glory, Ac. 

He also will hear their cry, and will save 
them. 

He will be very gracious unto thee at the 
voice of thy cry. 

His ears are open unto their cry. 

The righteous cry , and the Lord heareth, Ac. 

Thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. 

Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of 
these little ones a cup of cold water, & c. 

Who is among you that'feareth the Lord, 
Ac., that walketh in darkness, Ac. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, 
Ac. 



































KEY TO THE PROMISES. 


281 


John xi. 25. 

Isa. xxvi. 19. 
Rev. xx. 6. 

Isa. xxv. 8. 
John viii. 51. 

Ps. cxvi. 15. 

— xxxvii.4. 

— xci. 14. 

Job v. 19. 

2 Pet. ii. 9. 

Jer. xxxii. 40. 

Prov. xiv. 22. 

IIos. xiv. 5. 
John vii. 17. 

Ps. xlix. 14. 

Isa. xxxiii. 16. 

Rev. vii. 15. 

John xiv. 17. 
Ps. xxv. 13. 
Matt. x. 22. 
John x. 28. 

Ps. xxxiii. 18. 

— xxxiv. 15. 

2 Chron. xvi. 9. 

Ileb. x. 23. 

Ps. lxviii. 5. 

2 Cor. vi. 18. 

Ps. ciii. 13. 

— cxv. 13. 

'Mai. iv. 2. 

Reel. viii. 12. 
Rrov. xiv. 26. 

— xix. 23. 
Isa. xli. 10. 


Dead. 


Death. 


Delight. 

Deliver. 


Depart. 

Devise. 

Dew. 

Do his will. 

Dominion. 

■Dwell. 


Dwelleth. 

Ease. 

Endureth. 
Eternal life. 


Eyes of the Lord. 


Faithful. 

Father. 


I am the resurrection and the life, saith the 
Lord; he that beiieveth in me, though he 
were dead yet shall he live. 

Thy dead men shall live, together with my 
dead body shall they arise. Ac. 

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the 
first resurrection; over such the second 
death hath no power. 

He will swallow up death in victory. 

If a man keep my saying he shall never see 
death. 

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death 
of his saints. 

Delight thyself in the Lord, and he shall 
give thee the desire of thy heart. 

Because he hath set his love upon me, there¬ 
fore will 1 deliver him. 

He shall deliver thee in six troubles. 

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly 
out of temptations. 

I will put my fear in their hearts, that they 
shall not depart from me. 

Mercy and truth shall be to them that devise 
good. 

I will be as the dew unto Israel. 

If any man will do his will, he shall know of 
the doctrine whether it be of Gal. Ac. 

The upright shall have dominion over them 
in the morning. 

He shall dwelt on high ; his place of defence 
shall be the munition of rocks. 

Therefore are they before the throne of God, 
&c.; and he that sitteth on the throne shall 
dwell among them. 

He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 

His soul shall dwell at ease. 

He that endureth to the end shall be saved. 

And I give unto them eternal life, and they 
shall never perish. Ac. 

Behold, the eyes of the Lord are upon them 
that fear him. Ac. 

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, 
and his ears are open unto their cry. 

The eyes of the Lord run to and fro through¬ 
out the whole earth, Ac. 

He is faithful that promised. 

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the 
widows, is God in his holy habitation. 


Fear. 


Fear God. 
Fear of the 


Lord 


Fear — not. 


I will be a father unto you, Ac. 

Like as a father, pitieth his children, so the 
Lord pitieth. Ac. 

He will bless them that fear the Lord, both 
small and great. 

Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun 
of Righteousness. Ac. 

It shall be well with them that./rat* God. 

In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence, 
Ac. 

The fear of the Lord tendeth to life, and he 
that hath it shall be satisfied. 

Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Ac. 


24 






































282 KEY TO THE PROMISES. 


Ps. cxxviii. 1. 
Prov. xiii. 13. 

Zech. xii. 8. 
Rev. vii. 17. 

Ezek. xxxiv. 15. 

Ps. xcii. 13. 

Isa. xlix. 15. 

2 Chron. vii. 14. 

Ps. ciii. 3. 

Deut. xxxi. 8. 
Heb. xiii. 5. 

Isa. xli. 16. 

Zech. xiii. 1. 

Ps. xcii. 14. 
Matt. vii. 11. 


Luke vi. 38. 
Matt. xiii. 12. 

Ps. ixiv. 10. 

— lxxxiv. 11. 
Col. iii. 4. 

Heb. x. 10. 

Jer. xxxi. 1. 

Rev. xxi. 3. 

Heb. xi. 16. 
Ezek. xxxiv. 24. 
2 Cor. vi. 16. 

Isa. xli. 10. 

Joel ii. 27. 

1 Tim. iv. 8. 

2 Cor. xii. 9. 

Joel ii. 13. 

| Isa. xxx. 18. 

2 Chron. xxx. 9. 

Hos. xiii 24. 

— xiv. 5. 

Ps. xcii. 12. 

Mai. iv. 2. 

Isa. Ivii. 11. 

Ps. xlviii. 4. 
Ezek. xxxvi. 26. 
Jer. xxxiv. 7. 


Eeareth. 


Feeble. 

Feed. 

Feed. 

Flourish. 

Forget. 

Forgive. 

Forgiveth. 

Forsake. 


Fountain opened. 

Fruit. 

Gifts. 


Give. 

Given. 

Glad. 

Glory. 


God. 


Godliness. 

Grace. 

Gracious. 


Grave. 

Grow. 


Guide. 


Heart. 


Blessed is everyone that fear.eth the Lord, Ac. 

He that feareth the commandment shall be 
rewarded. 

He that is feeble shall be as David. Ac. 

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the 
throne shall feed them, Ac. 

I will feed my flock, and I will cause them 
to lie down, Ac. 

Those that be planted in the house of the 
Lord shall flourish, Ac. 

Can a woman forget her sucking child, Ac. 

Then will 1 hear from heaven, aud will for¬ 
give their sin. 

Tie forgiveth all thine iniquities. 

He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee. 

I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. 

These things will 1 do unto them, and will 
not forsake them. 

In that day there shall be a fountain opened, 

Ac. 

They shall bring forth fruit in old ago. 

If ye then, being evil, know how to give 
good gifts unto your children, how much 
more shall your Father. Ac. 

Give , and it shall be given unto you, Ac. 

Whosoever hath, to him shall be given. 

The righteous shall be glad in the Lord. 

“The Lord will give grace and glory. Ac. 

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, 
then shall ye also appearwith him in glory. 

I will be to them a God, and they shall be to 
me a people. 

At the same time, saith tlie Lord, will I be 
the God of all the families of Israel. 

God himself shall be with them, and be their 
God, 

God is not ashamed to be called their God. 

I the Lord will be their God. 

Twill be their Gotland theyshall be mypeople 

Be not dismayed, I am thy God. 

And ye shall know that I am the Lord your 
God. 

Godliness is profitable unto all things; hav¬ 
ing promise of the life. Ac. 

My grace is sufficient for thee, Ac. 

For he is gracious and merciful, slow to an¬ 
ger, and of great kindness. 

Therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be 
gracious unto you. 

The Lord your God is gracious and mer¬ 
ciful. 

I will ransom them from the power of the 
grave. 

He shall grow as the lily. 

He shall grow like the cedar of Lebanon. 

And ye shall go forth and grow as calves of 
the stall. 

And the Lord shall guide thee continually. 

He will be our guide, even unto death. 

A new heart also will I give you, Ac. 

And I will give them a heart to know me, Ac. 







































KEY TO THE PROMISES. 


283 


Jer. xxxiv. 39. 

Ezek. xi. 19. 

Matt. xi. 28. 

Isa. xli. 13. 

1 Sam. ii. 30. 
Ps. ix. 12. 

Job xxii. 29. 
Matt, xxiii. 12. 
Luke xviii. 14. 
Matt. v. 6. 

John vi. 35. 
Isa. liv. 5. 

MaL iii. 17. 

Isa. vii. 3. 

Ps. cxxi. 5. 

Isa. liv. 10. 
Luke xii. 32. 

James ii. 5. 

John viii. 32. 

Ps. lxxxix. 15. 

Isa. Iii. 6. 

Jer. xxxi. 33. 

Heb. xiii. 5. 
John x. 28. 
Matt. xix. 29. 

John vi. 47. 

Matt. x. 39. 

— xxv. 46. 

1 John ii. 25. 

Ps. xcvii. 11. 
— lxxxix. 15. 

Neh. i. 5. 

Prov. viii. 17. 

John xiv. 21. 

- 23. 

Prov. viii. 21. 

Ps. cxlv. 20. 


Heart. 


Heavy-laden 

Help. 

Honour. 

Humble. 


Hunger. 


Husband. 

Jewels. 

Joy. 

Keeper. 

Keepeth. 

Kindness. 

Kingdom. 


Know. 


Law. 

Leave. 

Life. 


Light. 

Love. 


And I will give them one heart and one way, 

&c. 

And I will give them one heart , and will 
put, &c. 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are 
heavy laden, &c. 

Fear not, I will help thee. 

Them that honour me, I will honour. 

He forgetteth not the cry of the humble. 

He shall save the humble person. 

He that shall humble himself shall he ex¬ 
alted. 

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst 
after righteousness. 

He that cometh unto me shall never hunger. 

For thy Maker is thine husband. 

And they shall be mine in that day when I 
make up my jewels. 

With joy shall ye draw water out of the 
wells of salvation. 

The Lord is thy keeper. 

He that keepeth thee will not slumber. 

My lcindness shall never depart from thee. 

It is your Father’s good pleasure to give 
you the kingdom. 

The kingdom which he hath promised to 
them that love him. 

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth 
shall make you free. 

Blessed are the people that know the joyful 
sound. 

My people shall knmv my name. 

I will put my law into their inward parts, 
and write it in their hearts, &c. 

I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, 

And I give unto them eternal life, &c. 

Every one that hath forsaken houses, &c., 
for my name’s sake-shall inherit ever¬ 
lasting life. 

He that believeth on me, hath everlasting 

life. 

He that loseth his life for my sake shall 
find it. 

The righteous shall go away into life eter¬ 
nal. 

This is the promise which he hath promised 
us, even eternal life. 

Light is sown for the righteous. 

They shall walk, 0 Lord, in the light of thy 
countenance. 

God keepeth covenant and mercy for them 
that love him. 

I love them that love me. 

I will love him, and will manifest myself to 
him. 

If a man love me, he will keep my words, 
and my Father will love him, &c. 

That I may cause them that love me to in¬ 
herit substance, &c. 

The Lord preserveth all them that love 
him. 































It 


284 KEY TO THE PROMISES. 


John xiv. 21. 

- 2 . 

Deut. iv. 31. 

Heb. xi. 12. 
Ps. xxv. 10. 


Isa. lv. 7. 
Ps. ciii. 17. 
Isa. xxx. 18 
Rev. iii. 12, 


5. 


Phil. iv. 19. 

Rev. xxii. 5. 
Ezek. xxxvi. 26. 
Isa. i. 19. 

Jer. vii. 23. 

Isa. xlvi. 4. 

Ps. lxxxi. 10. 
Rev. xxi. 7. 

— ii. 11. 

— iii. 5. 

- 12 . 

— ii. 17. 

- 7. 


— iii. 22. 

Isa. lv. 7. 

Jer. xxxiii. 8. 

Ps. lxxxv. 8. 


Isa. lvii. 2. 

2 Cor. xiii. 11. 

John xiv. 27. 

Ps. cxxv. 5. 

— xxix. 11. 
Phil. iv. 7. 

Jer. xxx. 22. 

John x. 28. 
Matt. v. 11. 


Loveth. 

Mansions. 

Merciful. 


Mercy. 


Name. 


Need. 

Night. 

New heart. 
Obedient. 

Obey. 

Old age. 

Open thy mouth. 
Overcometh. 


Pardon. 


Peace. 


People. 

Perish. 

Persecute. 


lie that loveth me shall be loved of my Fa¬ 
ther. 

In my Father’s house are many mansions. 
—I go to prepare a place for you. 

For the Lord thy God is merciful, he will 
not forsake thee. &c. 

I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. 

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and 
truth unto such as keep his covenant, 
&c. 

Let the wicked forsake his ways, <fcc., and 
he will have mercy upon him. 

The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting 
to everlasting upon them that fear him. 

Therefore will he be exalted, that he may 
have mercy upon you. &c. 

And I will write upon him the name of my 
God. 

I will not blot out his name out of the book 
of life, but I will confess bis name before 
my Father. &c. 

My God shall supply all your need. 

There shall be no night there. 

A new heart will I give you. 

If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the 
good of the land. 

Obey my voice, and I will be your God. 

And even to your old age. I am he. 

Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. 

Me that overcometh shall inherit all things. 

He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the 
second death 

He that overcometh , the same shall be 
clothed in white raiment. 

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar 
in the temple of my God, &c. 

To him that overcometh will I give to eat of 
the hidden manna. 

To him that overcometh will I give to eat of 
the tree of life. 

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit 
with me in my throne. 

He will abundantly pardon. 

I will pardon all their iniquities whereby 
they have sinned. 

He will speak peace to his people and to his 
saints. 

He shall enter into peace. 

Live in peace, and the God of love and peace 
shall be with you. 

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give 
unto you. 

Peace shall be upon Israel. 

The Lord will bless his people with peace. 

The peace of God, which passeth all under¬ 
standing, shall keep your hearts. 

Ye shall be my people, and I will be your 
God. 

They shall never perish. 

Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, 
and persecute you. 





























I 


KEY TO 

Matt. v. 10. 

Persecuted. 

Prov. xxviii. 27. 
— xix. 17. 

Poor. 

Luke xiv. 13. 


Matt. v. 3. 

Poor in spirit. 

— xxi. 22. 

Prayer. 

Prov. xv. 29. 
James iv. 16. 

Prayer. 

Ps. cxxxii. 16. 

Ex. xxxiii. 14. 
Acts ii. 39. 

Heb. x. 23. 

2 Cor. i. 20. 

Priests. 

Presence. 

Pi’omise. 

Promised. 

Promises. 

John vi. 40, 54. 
Ps. cxlvi. 8. 

— cxxx. 8. 

— xlvi. 1. 

Raise. 

Raiseth. 

Redeem. 

Refuge. 


THE PROMISES. 


285 


Deut. xxxiii. 27. 
Ps. ix. 9. 

— Ixxxix. 16. 

1 Luke vi. 22. 

Ps. xvi. 9. 

Isa. iii. 10. 

Ps. v. 12. 

Isa. Ivin. 11. 

Ps. cvi. 3. 

— xxxvii. 6. 

Isa. xli. 18. 

Ps. cxxv. 2. 

Isa. lvi. 2. 

— lvii. 13.11. 

Ezek. xx. 20. 

Jer. iii. 15. 

Ps. xxvi. 8. 

Matt. i. 21. 

Zeph. iii. 17. 

Isa. i. 18. 

Ps. xxv. 14. 


Rejoice. 

Reproach. 

Rest. 

Righteous. 


Righteousness. 


Rivers. 

Round about. 
Sabbath. 


Satisfied. 

Save. 


Scarlet 

Secret. 


Blessed are they which are persecuted for 
righteousness’ sake, Ac. 

He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack. 

He that hath pity on the poor lendeth uuto 
the Lord, and that which he hath given 
will he pay him again. 

"When thou makest a feast call the poor, &c., 
and thou shalt be blessed, Ac. 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is | 
the kingdom of heaven. 

And whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer , be- 1 
lieving, ye shall receive. 

He heareth the prayer of the righteous. 

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous 
man availeth much. 

I will clothe her priests with salvation. 

My presence shall go with thee, Ac. 

The promise is to you and to your cbildien. 

He is faithful that promised. 

All the promises of God in him [Christ] are 
yea, and in him amen, Ac. 

I will raise him up at the last day. 

The Lord raiseth them that be bowed down. 

He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquity. 

God is our refuge and strength, a very pre¬ 
sent help in trouble. 

The eternal God is thy refuge. 

The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed, 
a refuge in times of trouble. 

In thy name shall they rejoice all the day. 

Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, 
Ac., and shall reproach you, Ac. 

My flesh also shall rest in hope. 

Say ye to the righteous, it shall be well with 
him. 

Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous, &c. 

Verily there is a reward for the righteous. 

Blessed are they that keep judgment, and 
he that doeth righteousness at all times. 

He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the 
light. 

I will open rivers in high places, Ac. 

As the mountains are roundalxiut Jerusalem, 
so the Lord is round about his people. 

Blessed is the man that keepeth the sabbath 
from polluting it. 

If thou turn away thy foot from the sab¬ 
bath, from doing thy pleasure, Ac., then 
thou shalt delight thyself in the Lord. 

Hallow my sabbaths . . . that ye may know 
that I am the Lord your God. 

My people shall be satisfied with mygoodness. 

They shall be satisfied with the fatness of 
thine house. 

He shall save his people from their sins. 

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is 
mighty, he will save, Ac. 

Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall 
be as white as snow. 

The secret of the Lord is with them that fear 
him, Ac. 






























286 


KEY TO THE PROMISES. 


Gen. xvii. 7. 

Isa. xliv. 3. 

2 Chron. xv. 2. 
Matt. vi. 33. 


Amos ix. 34. 
Ezra viii. 22. 

Ps. lxix. 32. 
Lam. iii. 25. 

John xii. 26. 


Ps. xci. 1. 

Isa. xl. 11. 

Ezek. xxxiv. 23. 

Gen. xv. 1. 

Matt. xiii. 43. 

Pan. xii. 3. 

Rom. vi. 14. 
Matt. i. 21 
Isa. i. 18. 

— xxxii. 20 
Ps. cxxvi. 5. 
Gal. vi. 8. 

2 Cor. ix. 6. 

Prov. i. 23. 

Ezek. xxxvi. 27. 

Isa. lix. 21. 

Zech. xii. 10. 



Ps. xix. 11. 

— lxxxiv. 7. 


Seed. 


Seek. 


Seeketh. 

Serve. 

Shadow. 

Shepherd. 


Shield. 

Shine. 


Sin. 

Sins. 


Sow. 


Soweth. 


Spirit. 


Spirit of grace. 

• 

Sprinkle. 

Statutes. 

Steps. 


Strength. 


will establish my covenant between me 
and thee, and thy seed after thee. 

I will pour my spirit upon thy seed. 

If ye seek him he will be found of you. 

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his 
righteousness, and all these things shall 
be added unto you. 

Seek ye me and ye shall live. 

The hand of our God is upon all them for 
good that seek him. 

Your hearts shall live that seek God. 

The Lord is good uuto them that wait for 
him, unto the soul that seeketh him. 

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and 
where I am, there shall also my servant 
be. 

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the 
Most High shall abide under the shadow 
of the Almighty. 

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd. 

The Lord will set up one Shepherd over 
them, and he shall feed them. 

I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great 
reward. 

The righteous shall shine forth as the sun, 
<fec. 

They that be wise shall shine as the bright¬ 
ness of the firmament, &c. 

Sin shall not have dominion over you. 

He shall save his people from their sins. 

Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall 
be as white as snow. 

Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters. 

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 

He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the 
Spirit reap life everlasting. 

He which soiveth bountifully shall reap also 
bountifully. 

Behold I will pour out my Spirit unto 
you. 

I will put my Spirit within you, and cause 
you to walk in my statutes, &c. 

My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words 
which I have put in thy mouth, shall 
not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of 
the mouth of thy seed, &c. 

I will pour upon the house of David, and 
upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the 
spirit of grace and of supplications. 

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, 
and ye shall be clean. 

And I will put my Spirit within you, and 
cause you to walk in my statutes, &c. 

The law of his God is in his heart, and none 
of his steps shall slide. 

The steps of a good man are ordered by the 
Lord. 

My grace is sufficient for thee, and my 
strength is made perfect in weakness. 

The Lord will give strength unto his people. 

They go from strength to strength. 
























Ps. xxxi. 24. 

Isa. xli. 10. 

Zech. x. 12. 
Isa. xxxv. 4. 

Nahum i. 7. 

Ileb. ii. 18. 

Ps. Ixxxiv. 11. 
Matt. xiii. 43. 
Mai. iv. 2. 

Rev. iii. 20. 


Isa. liv. 13 
Ps. xxv. 8. 

— xxxii. 8. 

— xxv. 12. 
Isa. xxv. 8. 
James i. 12. 

1 Cor. x. 13. 

Ps. cxix. 2. 
Matt. vi. 31, 32. 

Isa. liv. 17. 

Ps. 1. 15. 

— xl. 4. 

— xviii. 30. 
—xxxiv. 22. 

— cxxv. 1. 

— xxxvii. 3. 

Prov. xxix. 25. 

Ps. xxxii. 10. 

Isa. xxvi. 3. 

Prov. xvi. 3. 

Ps. cxii. 7. 

John xvi 13. 
Zech. xiii. 9. 


KEY TO THE PROMISES. 287 


Strengthen. 


Strong. 

Strong hold. 

Succour. 

Su*. 


Sun of righteous¬ 
ness. 

Sup. 


Taught. 

Teach. 


Tears. 

Temptation. 


Tempted. 

Testimonies. 

Thought. 

Tongue. 

Trouble. 

Trust. 


Trusteth. 


Trusting. 

Trnth. 

Try. 


Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen 
thine heart. 

I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, 
yea, I will uphold thee. 

I I will strengthen them in the Lord. 

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be 
strong , fear not. 

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day ! 
of trouble. 

lie is able to succour them that are tempted. 

The Lord God is a sun and shield. 

The righteous shall shine forth as the sun. 

But unto you that fear my name shall the 
Sun of Righteousness arise, Ac. 

If any man bear my voice, and open the 
door, I will come in to him, and will sup 
with him, and he with me. 

All thy children shall he taught of the Lord. 

Good and upright is the Lord, therefore will 
he teach sinners in the way. 

I will instruct thee, and teach thee in the 
way which thou shalt go. 

What man is he that feareth the Lord ? him 
shall he teach in the way he shall choose. 

The Lord God will wipe away tears from off 
all faces. 

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation , 
for when he is tried he shall receive a 
crown of life, Ac. 

God is faithful, and will not suffer you to be 
tempted above that ye are able. 

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies. 

Therefore take no thought, &c., for your Hea¬ 
venly Father knoweth that ye have need, 
&c. 

No weapon that is formed against thee shall 
pvosper, and every tongue. Ac. 

Call upon me in the day of trouble , I will 
deliver thee. 

Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his 
trust, and respecteth not the proud. Ac. 

He is a buckler to all those that trust in 
him. 

None of them that trust in him shall be deso¬ 
late. 

They that trust in the Lord shall he as Mount 
Zion, Ac. 

Trust in the Lord and do good, Ac..and verily 
thou shalt he fed. 

Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall 
be safe. 

He that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall 
compass him about. 

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Ac., be¬ 
cause be trusteth in thee. 

Whoso trusteth in the Lord happy is he. 

lie shall not he afraid of evil tidings, his 
heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. 

He shall guide you into all truth. 

I will bring the third part through the fire, 
Ac., and will try them as gold. Ac. 


% 



























[ 288 THREATENINGS AND WARNINGS. 


Ezek. xviii. 21. 

Zech. i. 3. 

Matt, xviii. 20. 

Ps. xxxvii. 18. 

Prov. xxviii 18. 
Isa. xxx. 18. 

— xl. 31. 

Ps. xxvii. 14. 

Lev. xxvi. 12. 

Rev. iii. 4. 

Ps. i. 1. 

Ps. xxxiv. 9. 
Prov. viii. 34. 

Isa. xii. 3. 

Jer. xxxi. 12. 
Isa. xliii. 2. 

Joe xvii. 9. 

Jer. xxvi. 13. 

Prov. iii. 6. 

Ps. exxvi. 6. 

John vii. 17. 

Ps. cx. 3. 

Prov. xiw. 20. 

— iii. 35. 
Dan. xii. 3. 

Ps. evii. 43. 


Turn. 


Two or three 

Upright. 

Uprightly. 

Wait. 


Walk. 


Walketh. 

Want. 

W etching. 

W ater. 

Watered. 

Waters. 

Way. 

Ways. 


Weepeth. 

Will. 

Willing. 

Wise. 


If the wicked will turn from all his sins . . 
he will surely live, Ac. 

Turn ye unto me, Ac.,and I will turn unto 
you. 

Where two or three are gathered together in 
my name, there am I in the midst of them. 

The Lord knoweth the days of the upright , 
and their inheritance shall be for ever. 

Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved. 

Blessed are all they that wait for him. 

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew 
their strength. 

Wait upon the Lord, be of good courage, and 
he shall strengthen thine heart, Ac. 

And I will walk among you, and will be your 
God. 

And they shall walk with me in white, for 
they are worthy. 

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the 
counsel of the ungodly. 

There is no want to them that fear him. 

Blessed is the man that heareth me, watch¬ 
ing daily at my gates. 

With joy shall ye draw toater from the wells 
of salvation. 

Their souls shall be like a wate.red garden. 

When thou passest through the waters I 
will be with thee, Ac. 

The righteous also shall hold on his way,& c. 

Amend your ways, Ac., and the Lord will 
repent him, Ac. 

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he 
shall direct thy paths. 

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing 
precious seed, shall doubtless come again 
with rejoicing, Ac. 

If any man shall do his loill he shall know 
of the doctrine, Ac. 

Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy 
power. 

He that walketh with wise men shall be xoise. 

The wise shall inherit glory. 

They that be wise shall shine as the bright¬ 
ness of the firmament. 

Whoso is wise and will observe these things, 
even they shall understand the loving¬ 
kindness of the Lord. 


Cjjmhnings anil mornings. 


Luke ix. 62. 
John xv. 6. 
Heb. iii. 12. 


Apostates. 


No man having put his hand to the plough, and 
looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. 

If any man abide not in me, he is cast forth as 
a branch, and is withered. 

Take h^ed, brethren, lest there be in any Of 
you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing 
from the living God. 
































-- 

THREATENINGS AND WARNINGS. 289 


Heb. x. 26. 

— 38. 

— xii. 15 
2 Pet. ii. 20 

Psa. cxxv. 5. 

1 Cor. x. 12. 

Col. ii. 8. 

Matt. xii. 31. 
Mark iii. 28. 
J ude 14, 15. 


Luke xii. 15. 
Eph. v. 5. 

Col. iii. 5, 6. 

James v. 3. 

2 Thess. i. 7. 8. 

Heb. ii. 2, 3. 


Apostates. 


Backsliders. 


Blasphemers. 


Covetous. 


Disobedient. 


— xii. 25. 


1 Pet. iv. 17. 


[For if we sin wilfully, after that we have re 
ceived the knowledge of the truth, there re- 
maiueth no more sacrifice for sins. 

If any man draw back, my soul shall have no 
pleasure in him. 

Look diligently, lest any man fail of th.<* grace 
of God. 

For if after they have escaped the pollutions 
of the world through the knowledge of the 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,they are again 
entangled therein and overcome, the latter 
end is worse with them than the begin¬ 
ning. 

For such as turn aside unto their crooked ! 
ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with j 
the worker's of iniquity. 

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth [ 
take heed lest he fall. 

Beware lest any man spoil you through phi¬ 
losophy and vain deceit. 

The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall 
not be forgiven. 

Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of 
his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and 
to convince all that are ungodly among them 
of all their ungodly deeds which they have 
ungodly committed, and of all their hard 
speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken 
against him. 

Take heed, and beware of covetousness. 

For this know, that no whoremongers, Ac., nor 
covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any 
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of 
God. 

Mortify therefore your members which are 
upon the earth; fornication, Ac., and covet¬ 
ousness, which is idolatry: for which things’ 
sake the wrath of God cometh on the chil¬ 
dren of disobedience. 

Your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust 
of them shall be a witness against you, and 
shall eat your flesh as it were fire; ye have 
heaped treasure together for the last days. 

The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven 
with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, tak¬ 
ing vengeance on them that know not God, 
and that obey not the gospel of our Lord 
Jesus Christ. 

For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, 
and every transgression and disobedience re¬ 
ceived a just recompense of reward, how shall 
we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ? 

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For 
if they escaped not who refused him that 
spake on earth, much more shall not we 
escape, if we turn away from him that speak¬ 
eth from heaven. 

For the time is come that judgment must be¬ 
gin at the house of God: and if it first begin I 
at us, what shall the end be of those that I 
obey not the gospel of God ? 


25 

































290 THREATENINGS AND WARNINGS. 


Deut. xxv.13-16, l Dishonest. 


Prov. xi. 1. 

— xx. 23. 

— xxiii.31,32. 


1 Cor. vi. 10. 
Gal. v. 20, 21. 


1 Cor. vi. 10. 
Matt. xv. 14. 
Gal. i. 9. 


2 John 9,10. 


Isaiah viii. 20. 


Mark iv. 24. 
Luke viii. 18. 
James i. 22. 

Job viii. 13. 

— xxxvi. 13. 
Psa. xcvii. 7. 

1 Cor. x. 14. 

1 John v. 21. 
Luke xiii. 3. 
Rom. ii. 4, 5. 


Rev. ii. 5. 


Prov. xix. 9. 
Rev. xxi. 8.* 


Drunkards. 


Extortioners. 
False Teachers. 


Hearers. 


Hypocrites. 

Idolaters. 


Impenitent. 


Liars. 


Thou shalt not have in thy hag divers weights, 
a great and a small, &c.; for all that do such 
things, and all that do unrighteously, are 
an abomination unto the Lord thy God. 

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord. 

Divers weights are an abomination unto the 
Lord. 

Look not thou upon t he wine when it is red, 
when it giveth its color in the cup, when it 
moveth itself aright. At the last, it biteth 
like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 

Nordrunkards shall inherit the kingdom of God 

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which 
are these: adultery, <fcc., drunkenness, revel- 
lings, and such like: of the which I tell you 
before, as I have also told you in times past, 
that they which do such things, shall not in¬ 
herit the kingdom of God. 

Nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of 
God. 

If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into 
the ditch. 

If any man preach any other gospel unto you 
than that ye have received, let him be ac¬ 
cursed. 

fie that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he 
hath both the Father, and the Son. If there 
come any unto you, and bring not this doc¬ 
trine, receive him not into your house, 
neither bid him God speed. 

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak 
not according to this word, it is because there 
is no light in them. 

Take heed what ye hear. 

Take heed, therefore, how ye hear. 

Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, 
deceiving your ownselves. 

The hypocrite’s hope shall perish. 

The hypocrites in heart, heap up wrath. 

Confounded be all they that serve graven im¬ 
ages. that boast themselves of idols. 

Flee from idolatry. 

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. 

Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 

Despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and 
forbearance.and long-suffering; not knowing 
that the goodness of God leadeth thee to re¬ 
pentance? .But after thy hardness and im¬ 
penitent heart treasurest /Up unto thyself 
wrath against the day of wrath and revela¬ 
tion of the righteous judgment of God. 

Remember, therefore, from whence thou art 
fallen, and repent, and do the first works: or 
else I will come unto thee quickly, and will 
remove the candlestick out of his place, ex¬ 
cept thou repen t. 

A false witness shall not be unpunished, and 
he that speaketh lies shall perish. 

All liars shall have their part in the lake which 
burneth with fire and brimstone, which is 
the second death. 



























THREATENING^ AND WARNINGS. 291 ' 

Rev. xxi. 27. 

Liars. 

And there shall in nowise enter into it any¬ 
thing that defileth, neither whatsoever work- 
eth abomination, or maketh a lie: but they 
which are written in the Lamb’s book of 


ft 

life. 

Psa. lxviii. 5. 

Oppressors. 

A Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the 
widows, is God in his holy habitation. 

— ciii. 6. 


The Lord executeth righteousness and judg¬ 
ment for all that are oppressed. 

Mai. iii. 6. 


And I will come near you to judgment; and I 
will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, 
<fcc.. and against those that oppress the hire¬ 
ling in his wages, the widow and the father¬ 
less, and that turn aside the stranger from 
his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord 

James v. 4. 


of hosts. 

Behold, the hire of the laborers who have 
reaped down your fields, which is of you 
kept back by fraud, crieth : and the cries of 
them which have reaped are entered into 
the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 

Matt vi. 1 

Ostentatious. 

Take heed that ye do not your alms before 
men, to be seen of them : otherwise ye have 
no reward of your Father which is in 



heaven. 

Psa. vii. IS. 

2 Thess. 1 6. 

Persecutors. 

He ordaineth his arrows against the persecu¬ 
tors. 

It is a righteous thing with God to recompense 
tribulation to them that trouble you. 

Matt. iii. 10. 

Professors. 

Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, 
is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

— vii. 19,22,23. 


Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, 
have we not prophesied in thy name, and in 
thy name cast out devils, and in thy name 
done many wonderful works? and then will 

I profess unto them, I never knew you: de¬ 
part from me ye that work iniquity. 

Luke xiii. 26, 27. 


Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and 
drunk in thy presence. &c.: but he shall say, 

I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; 
depart from me all ye workers of inquity. 

John xv. 6. 


If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a 
branch, and is withered; and men gather 
them, and cast them into the fire, and they 
are burned. 

Prov. vi. 17. 

Proud. 

The Lord hateth a proud look. 

— xvi. 5. 


Every one that is proud in heart is an abomi¬ 
nation to the Lord: though hand join in 
hand he shall not be unpunished. 

James iv. 6. 


God resisteth the proud. 

1 Pet. v. 5. 
Prov. i. 24. 

Scorners. 

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have 
stretched out myhand, and no man regarded; 
but ye have set at nought all my counsel, 
and would none of my reproof: I also will 
laugh at your calamity; I will mock when 
your fear cometh. 

— xix. 29. 


Judgments are prepared for scorners. 

Exod. xx. 7. 

Swearers. 

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy 

Deut. v. 11. 


God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him 
guitless, that taketh his name in vain. 


























292 THREATENINGS AND WARNINGS 


Psa. lix. 12. 


Zech. v. 3. 
James, v. 12. 


1 Cor. vi. 10. 

Mark xvi. 16. 
John iii. 18. 


— 36. 

— viii. 24. 

2 Thess. ii. 12. 

Rev. xxi. 8. 

• 

Matt. xxv. 42,&c. 


1 John iii. 14. 
— 17. 

Eph. v. 5. 

Rev. xxii. 15. 
Job xxi. 30. 
Psalm i. 5. 

— vii. 11,12. 


— ix. 17. 

— lxxiii. 12,18. 


— xcii. 7. 


— cxlv. 20. 
Prov. xi. 5. 


Swearers. 


Thieves. 

Unbelievers. 


Uncharitable. 


Unclean. 


Ungodly. 


For the sin of their mouth, and the words of 
their lips, let them even be taken in their 
pride : and for cursing and lying which they 
speak. 

Every one that sweareth shall be cut off. 

Swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the 
earth, neither by any other oath: but let 
your yea, be yea, and your nay, nay; lest ye 
fall into condemnation. 

Nor thieves, nor covetous, &c., shall inherit 
the kingdom of God. 

He that believeth not. shall be damned. 

He that believeth not, is condemned already, 
because he hath not believed in the name of 
the only begotten Son of God. 

He that believeth not the Son, shall not see 
life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him. 

If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in 
your sins. 

That all might be damned who believed not the 
truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. I 

But the fearful and unbelieving, &c., shall have j 
their part in the lake that burneth with fire 
and brimstone: which is the second death. 

For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no 
meat, &c.—Inasmuch as ye did it not to one 
of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 
And these shall go away into everlasting 
punishment; but the righteous into life 
eternal. 

He that loveth not his brother abideth in 
death. 

Whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his 
brother have need, and shutteth up his 
bowels of compassion from him, how dwell- 
eth the love of God in him ? 

No whoremonger, nor unclean person, hath 
any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ 
and of God. 

For without [the holy city] are dogs, and sorce¬ 
rers, and whoremongers, &c. 

The wicked is reserved to the day of destruc- 

I tion. 

The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, 
nor sinners in the congregation of the right¬ 
eous: For the Lord knoweth the way of the 
righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall 
perish. 

God is angry with the wicked every day. If 
he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath 
bent his bow, and made it ready. 

The wicked shall be turned into hell. 

Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in 
the world; they increase in riches.—Surely 
thou didst set them in slippery places; thou 
castedst them down to destruction. 

When the wicked spring as the grass, and when 
all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is 
that they shall be destroyed for ever. 

All the wicked will he destroy 

TKn att I 1_ l. i__ 


The wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 


J 





































/ 


A 


\ * 



BIBLE AIDS FOR PRAYER. 293 

Prov. xi. 7. 

— 21. 

— xiv. 32, 

Ungodly. 

When a wicked man dieth, his expectation 
shall perish; and the hope of unjust men 
perisheth. 

The wicked shall not be unpunished. 

The wicked is driven away in his wickedness, i 


36ilile Slits for Inrial anil ^rinnic ^ratjtr. 

“ Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away 
all iniquity, and receive @s graciously: so will we render the calves of our 
lips.” Hosea xiv. 2 

“ As to expression in prayer, we should treasure up such expressions es¬ 
pecially as we read in Scripture.”— Buck. 

* 

EXPRESSIONS FOR SOCIAL PRAYER. 


ADORATION. 


SUPPLICATION. 


Jer. x. 6,7. 


Psa. cxlv. 10. 


— Ixv. 2. 


Forasmuch as there is 
none like unto thee, 
0 Lord; thou art 
great, and thy name 
is great in might; 
who would not fear 
thee, 0 King of na¬ 
tions ? 

All thy works shall 
praise thee, 0 Lord,and 
thy saints shall bless 
thee. They shall speak 
of the glory of thy 
kingdom, and talk of 
thy power. 

0 thou that hearest 
prayer, unto thee shall 
all flesh come. 


Psa. lxvii. 1. 


— lxxxv. 7. 


- 8 . 


— lxvii. 3. 


— vii. 9. 


CONFESSION. 


God be merciful unto 
us, and bless us; and 
cause his face to shine 
upon us. 

Wilt thou not revive us 
again, that thy people 
may rejoice in thee f 

Show us thy mercy, 0 
Lord, and grant us thy 
salvation. 

INTERCESSION. 

Let the people praise 
thee, 0 God; let all 
the people praise thee. 

Oh let the wickedness 
of the wicked come to 
an end: but establish 
the just. 


Dan. ix. 5. 


1 John i. 8. 


Isa. lxiv. 6. 


We have sinned, and 
have committed ini¬ 
quity, and have done 
wickedly, and have 
rebelled, even by de¬ 
parting from thy pre¬ 
cepts and from thy 
judgments. 

If we say we have no 
sin, we deceive our¬ 
selves, and the truth 
is not in us. 

We are all as an unclean 
thing. 


— cvii. 15. 


Psa. cviii. 4. 


— cxiii. 2. 


THANKSGIVING. 

Oh that men would 
praise the Lord for his 
goodness, for his won¬ 
derful works to the 
children of men! 

For thy mercy is great 
above the heavens, 
and thy truth aeacheth 
unto the clouds. 

Blessed be the name of 
the Lord from this 
time forth and for 
evermore. 




25 * 


























294 


r i 


Psa. cxiii. 3. 

4 

- 5, 6. 


2 Cor. ix. 15. 
-7. 

1 Pet. i. 3, 4. 


Psa. xviii. 1. 

i 

» 

I 

— lxii. 1. 

- 2 . 

I 

| 

— 1L 3. 


BIBLE AIDS FOR PRAYER. 


From the rising of the 
sun unto the going 
down of the same, the 
Lord’s name is to be 
praised. 

Who is like unto the 
Lord our God, who 
dwelleth on high, who 
humbleth himself to 
behold the things that 
are in heaven and in 
the earth! 

Thanks be unto God for 
his unspeakable gift 
In whom we have re¬ 
demption through his 
blood, the forgiveness 
of sins according to 
the riches of his grace. 
Blessed be the God and 
Father of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, which 
according to his abun¬ 
dant mercy hath be¬ 
gotten us again unto 
a lively hope by the 
resurrection of Jesus 
Christ from the dead, 
to an inheritance in¬ 
corruptible, and unde¬ 
filed, and that fadeth 
not away. 


Eph. i. 3. 


Isa. xxvi. 13. 


lxiii. lfc 


Phil. iv. 20. 


Rev. vii. 10. 


Rev. vii. 12. 


Blessed be the God and I 
Father of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, who 
hath blessed us with 
all spiritual blessings 
in Christ. 

DEDICATION. 

0 Lord our God, other 
lords besides thee have 
had dominion over us: 
but by thee only will 
we make mention of 
thy name. 

We are thine. 

D0X0L0QY. 

Now unto God and our 
Father be glory for 
ever and ever. Amen. 
Salvation to our God 
which sitteth on the 
throne, and unto the 
Lamb. 

Blessing, and glory, and 
wisdom, and thanks¬ 
giving. and honour, 
and power, and might, 
be unto our God for 
ever and ever. Amen. 


EXPRESSIONS FOR PRIVATE PRAYER. 


ADORATION. 

I will love thee, 0 Lord, 
my strength. 

The Lord is my rock, 
and my fortress, and 
my deliverer; my God, 
my strength, in whom 
I will trust; my buck¬ 
ler, and the horn of 
my salvation, and my 
high tower. 

Truly my soul waiteth 
upon God: from him 
cometh my salvation. 

He only is my rock and 
my salvation; he is 
my defence, I shall 
not be greatly moved. 

CONFESSION. 

I acknowledge my trans¬ 
gression, and my sin 
is ever before me. 


Rom. vii. 18. 


24. 


Job. xL 4. 


Luke xviii. 13. 
Psa. li. 10. 


For I know that in me, 
that is in my fleshy 
dwelleth no good 
thing : for to will is 
present with me; but 
how to perform that 
which is good I find 
•not. 

0 wretched man that I 
am, who shall deliver 
me from the body of 
this death? 

Behold, I am vile; what 
shall I answer thee? 
I will lay my hand 
upon my mouth. 

SUPPLICATION. 

• 

God be merciful to me 
a sinner. 

Create in me a clean 
heart, 0 God ; and fe- 
new a right spirit 
within me. 




























BIBLE AIDS FOR PRAYER. 


295 


Psa. li 1. 


— xxv. 11. 


— li. 9. 


— xxv. 7. 


11 . 


12 . 


15. 


17. 


— xvii. 7. 


Psa. cxix. 149. 


175. 


176. 


— cxxxix. 23. 


24. 


Have mercy upon me, 0 
God, according to thy 
loving kindness : ac¬ 
cording unto the mul¬ 
titude of thy tender 
mercies, blot out my 
transgressions. 

For thy name’s sake. 0 
Lord, pardon mine ini¬ 
quity, for it is great! 
Hide thy face from my 
sins, and blot out all 
mine iniquities. 
Remembernot thesinsof 
myyouth.nor my trans¬ 
gressions: according to 
thy mercy remember 
thou me for thy good¬ 
ness’ sake, 0 Lord. 
Cast me not away from 
thy presence; and 
take not thy holy spirit 
from me. 

Restore unto me the 
joy of thy salvation; 
and uphold me with 
thy free spirit. 

0 Lord, open thou my 
lips; and my mouth 
shall show forth thy 
praise. 

The sacrifices of God 
are a broken spirit: a 
broken and a contrite 
heart, 0 God, thou wilt 
not despise. 

Hold up my goings in 
thy paths, that my 
footsteps slip not. 

Hear my voice accord¬ 
ing unto thy loving 
kindness : 0 Lord 

quicken me according 
to thy judgment. 

Let my soul live, and it 
shall praise thee; and 
let thy judgments help 
me. 

I have gone astray like 
a lost sheep: seek thy 
servant; for I do not 
forget thy command¬ 
ments. 

Search me, 0 God, and 
know my heart: try 
me, and know my 
thoughts: 

And see if there be any 
wicked way in me, and 
lead me in the way 
everlasting. 


Ps. xxv. 4. 

- 5. 

— cxix. 18. 

1 Chron. lv. 10, 


Gen. xxxii. 26. 
Prov. xxx. 8. 


9. 


Job. xvi. 22. 


Ps. xxxix. 4. 


Epb. vi. 24. 


Ps. CXXY. 4 


Isa. lxiv. i. 


Ps. xliii. 3. 


Shew me thy ways. 0 
Lord; teach me thy 
paths. 

Lead me in thy truth, 
and teach me: for thou 
art the God of my sal¬ 
vation; on thee do I 
wait all the day. 

Open thou mine eyes, 
that I may behold 
wondrous things out 
of thy law. 

0 that thou wouldst 
bless me indeed, and 
enlarge my coast, and 
that thine hand might 
be with me, and that 
thou wouldst keep me 
from evil, that it may 
not grieve me! 

I will not let thee go, 
except thou bless me. 

Remove far from me 
vanity and lies: give 
me neither poverty 
nor riches; feed me 
with food convenient 
for me. 

Lest 1 be full, and deny 
thee, and say, Who is 
the Lord ? or lest I he 
poor, and steal, and 
take the name of my 
God in vain. 

When a few years are 
come, then I shall go 
the way whence I 
shall not return. 

Lord, make me to know 
mine end, and the 
measure of my days, 
what it is; that I may 
know how frail I am. 

INTERCESSION. 

Grace be with all them 
that love our Lord 
Jesus Christ in sin¬ 
cerity. 

Do good, 0 Lord, unto 
those that be good, 
and to them that are 
upright intheir hearts. 

0 that thou wouldst 
rend the heavens, that 
thou wouldst come 
down, that the moun¬ 
tains might flow down 
at thy presence. 

0 send out thy light 
and thy truth. 





















296 


BIBLE AIDS FOR PRAYER 


Psa. lvii. 11. 

— lxxii. 18. 

* 

- 19. 

■ 

| — xl. 1. 

- 5. 

— cxxxix. 17. 

Psa. cxxxix. 18. 

— ciii. 1. 

- 2 . 


Be thou exalted, 0 God 
above the heavens : 
let thy glory be above 
all the earth. 

Blessed be the Lord 
God, the God of Is¬ 
rael, who only doeth 
wondrous things. 

And blessed be his glo 
rious name for ever : 
and let the whole 
earth be filled with 
his glory. Amen and 
Amen. 


Psa. ciii. 3. 


— 4 . 


— cxvi. 12. 


- 13. 


THANKSGIVING. 

I waited patiently for 
the Lord ; and he in¬ 
clined unto ' me, and 
heard my cry. 

Many, 0 Lord my God. 
are thy wonderful 
works which thou hast 
done.and thy thoughts 
which are to us-ward : 
they cannot be reckon¬ 
ed up in order unto 
thee: if I would de¬ 
clare and speak of 
them, they are more 
than can be numbered. 
How precious also are 
thy thoughts unto me, 
0 God! how great is 
the sum of them! 

If I should count them 
they are more in num¬ 
ber than the sand: 
when I awake, I am 
still with thee. 

Bless the Lord, 0 my 
soul, and all that is 
within me, bless his 
holy name. 

Bless the Lord, 0 my 
soul, and forget not 
all his benefits. 


— cxlv. 10. 


Psa. cxlix. 4. 


— cxvi. 16. 


- 9. 


1 Tim. i. 17. 


Rom. xvi. 27. 


Who forgiveth all thine 
iniquities,who healeth 
all thy diseases. 

Who redeemeth thy life 
from destruction: who 
crowneth thed with 
loving-kindness and 
tender mercies. 

What shall I render 
unto the Lord for all 
his benefits toward 
me ? 

I will take the cup of 
salvation and call 
upon the name of the 
Lord. 

All thy works shall 
praise thee. 0 Lord, 
and thy saints shall 
bless thee. 

For the Lord taketh 
pleasure in his people, 
he will beautify the 
meek with salvation. 

DEDICATION. 

0 Lord, truly I am thy 
servant; I am thy 
servant, and the son 
of thine handmaid: 
thou hast loosed my 
bonds. 

I will walk before the 
Lord in the land of 
the living. 

DOXOLOGY. 

Now unto the King 
eternal, immortal, in¬ 
visible, the only wise 
God, be honour and 
glory for ever and ever. 
Amen. 

To God, only wise, be 
glory, through Jesus 
Christ, for ever. Amen. 


J 






















Cnntrntii uf tb e Uihi't 


The number of books in the Old Testament is 39, and in the New. 27; total, 
U5 books. 


The Old Testament has 
New “ 


929 chaptern 
260 « 


1189 


Total 


The Old Testament has 
New “ 


23,214 verses. 
7,959 “ 


Total 


31,173 


592.439 words 
181.253 “ 


The Old Testament has 
New “ 


773,692 


Total 


2,728.110 letters. 
838.380 “ 


The Old Testament has 
New “ 



Total 


3,566,480 


The word Jehovah, or Lord, occurs in the Old Testament 6855 times. 

The middle chapter of the Bible, and shortest, is Fsalm cxvii. The middle 
verse is Psalm cxviii. 8. The middle book of the Old Testament is Proverbs. 
The middle chapter, Job xxix. Middle verse, 2 Chron. xx. 17. Least verse, 
1 Chron. i. 25. Middle book of the New Testament is 2 Thess. Middle verse. 
Acts. xvii. 17. Least verse, John xi. 35. Ezra vii. 21, has all the letters of the 
alphabet. 


297 

















r 


1 


Unmts miii €itlrs ginrn tn Stsns CIjrist. 


1 Cor. xv. 45. 

Adam. 

1 John ii. 1. 

Advocate. 

Kev. iii. 14. 

Amen. 

Isa. lxiii. 9. 
Mai. iii. 1. 

Angel. 

Dan. vii 22. 

Ancient of Days. 

Ps. ii. 2, xlv. 7. 

Anointed. 

Ileb. iii. 1. 

Apostle. 

Cant. ii. 3. 

Apple tree. 

Ileb. xii. 2. 

Author and Finisher 


of Faith. 

Luke ii. 16. 

Babe. 

Kev. iii. 14. 

Beginning of the Crea¬ 


tion of God. 

John i. 14. 

Begotten of the Father. 

Cant. i. 13; 
Eph. i. 6. 

Beloved. 

1 Pet. ii. 25. 

Bi-shop. 

1 Tim. vi. 15. 

Blessed. 

Zech. iii. 8. 

Branch. 

John iii. 14. 

Brazen serpent. 

John vi. 4S-51. 

Bread of life. 

Matt. ix. 15. 

Bridegroom. 

Kev. xxii. 16. 

Bright morning star. 

Heb. i. 3. 

Brightness of the Fa¬ 

Cant. i. 13. 

ther’/ glory. 

Bundle of myrrh. 

Cant. i. 14. 
Josh. v. 14. 
Heb. ii. 10. 

Camphire. 

Captain. 

Isa. ix. 6. 

Child. 

Matt. xii. 18. 
Luke xxiii. 35. 

Chosen. 

Matt. i. 16. 

Christ. 

— ii. 4. 
Luke ii. 25. 

Consolation of Israel. 

Eph. ii. 20. 

1 Pet. ii 7. 

Corner-stone. 

Isa. xlii. 6. 

Covenant. 

Isa. ix. 6. 

Counsellor. 

Isa. xxxii. 2. 

Covert. 

Isa. xliii. 15. 

Creation. 

Luke vii. 41. 

Creditor. 

Isa. xlv. 1. 

Cyrus 

T er. xxx. 9. 

Ex. xxxvii. 24, 

David. 

25. 

Hos. iii. 5. 

Job ix. 33. 

Day’s-tnan. 

2 Pet. i. 10. 

Day-star. 

Kom. xi. 26. 

Deliverer. 

Hag. ii. 7. 

Desire of all nations. 

Hos. xiv. 5. 

Dew. 

Isa. Ixii. 3. 

Diadem. 


John x. 7. 

Door of sheep. 

Deut. xxxii. 11. 

Eagle. 

Isa. xlii. 1* 

Elect. 

Matt. i. 23. 

Emmanuel. 

Isa. xi. 10. 

Ensign. 

1 John v. 20. 

Eternal life. 

Isa. ix. 6. 

Everlasting Father. 

Heb. i. 3. 

Express image, &c. 

Rev. i. 5. 

Faithful witness. 

— iii. 14. 


— xix. 11. 


Luke xv. 23. 

Fatted calf. 

Isa. ix. 6. 

Father of eternity. 

Isa. xl. 11. 

Feeder. 

IIos. xiv. 8. 

Fir-tree. 

ltev. i. 5. 

First-begotten. 

1 Cor. xv. 23. 

First fruits. 

Kev. ii. 8. 

First and last. 

John i. 14. 

Flesh. 

Isa. xxviii. 16. 

Foundation. 

Zech. xiii. 1. 

F’ountain. 

Heb. vi. 20. 

Forerunner. 

Matt. xi. 19. 

Frieud of sinner. 

2 Cor. ix. 15. 

Gift of God. 

Isa. xl. 5. 

Glory of God. 

Isa. xxxiii. 21. 

Glorious Lord 

John i. 1. 

God. 

Rom. ix. 5. 


1 Tim. iii. 10. 


1 John v. 20. 


Cant. v. 11. 

Gold. 

Rev. viii. 3. 

Golden altar. 

Matt. ii. 6. 

Governor. 

1 Pet. ii. 3. 

Gracious. 

Ps. xlviii. 14. 

Guide. 

Ps. xci. 9. 

Habitation. 

Heb. vii. 26. 

Harmless. 

Col. i. 18. 

Head of the church. 

Heb. i. 2. 

Heir of all things. 

Ps. xxxiii. 20. 

Help.' 

— xl. 17. 


Isa. Iviii. 14. 

Heritage. 

Ps. xviii. 13. 

Highest. 

Luke i. 32. 


Heb. iii. 1. 

High Priest. 

— vii. 1. 


Luke viii. 28. 

Most High. 

Mark. i. 24. 

Holy one of God. 

Isa. xii. 14. 

1101}’ one of Israel. 

Acts iv. 30. 

Iloty child. 

Cant. iv. 11. 

Honey-comb. 

Acts xxviii. 20. 

Hope. 

1 Tim. i. 1. 



298 



















NAMES AND TITLES GIVEN TO CHRIST 


299 


Ps. xviii. 2. 

Horn of salvation. 

— lxiii. 1. 

Mighty God. 

Isa. liv. 5. 

Husband. 

Ileb. viii. 2. 

Minister. 

Jer. xxxi. 32. 


Rev. ii. 28. 

Morning star. 



— xxii. 16. 


Exod. iii. 14. 

I Am. 

Acts iii. 22. 

Moses. 

John viii. 58. 

4 

Matt. i. 23. 

Nazarite. 

Ileb. i. 3. 

Image of God. 



Isa. vii. 14. 

Immanuel. 

Rev. xxii. 16. 

Offspring of David. 

1 Tim. i. 17. 

Immortal. 

John i. 14. 

Only-begotten. 

Ezek. xliv 28. 

Inheritance. 

Cant. i. 3. 

Ointment. 

1 Tim. i. 17. 

Invisible. 



Isa. xliv. 21. 

Israel. . 

1 Cor. v. 7. 

Passover. 

— xlix. 3. 


Ezk xxxiv. 29. 

Plant of renown. 



1 Tim. vi. 15. 

Potentate. 

Isa. xli. 8. 

Jacob. 

Acts iii. 15.. 

Prince. 

— xliv. 1, 5. 


— -v. 31. 


Ps. lxviii. 4. 

Jah. 

Luke iv. 19. 

Prophet. 

Isa. xxvi. 4. 

Jehovah. 

Acts iii. 22. 

— xl. 3. 


1 John ii. 2. 

Propitiation. 

Cant. vi. 4. 

Jerusalem. 

— iv. 10. 


Matt. i. 21. 

Jesus. 

1 Cor. i. 24. 

Power of God. 

1 Thess. i. 10. 


Mai. iii. 3. 

Purifier. 

Rev. v. 5. 

Judah. 

Matt. ix. 12. 

Physician. 

Mich. v. 1. 

Judge. 

Isa. xl. 2. 

Polished shaft. 

Acts x. 42. 

Heb. iv. 14. 

Priest. 



— vii. 26. 


Matt. xxi. 5. 

King. 



— xxv. 34. 


1 Tim. ii. 6. 

Ransom. 



Rev. xiv. 15. 

Reaper. 

Gen. xxviii. 12. 

Ladder. 

Isa. lix. 20. 

Redeemer. 

John i. 29. 

Lamb. 

— lx. 16. 


Rev. v. 6. 


John xi. 25. 

Resurrection. 

Isa. xx iii. 22. 

Lawgiver. 

Mai. iii. 3. 

Refiner. 

James iv. 12. 

Isa. xxv. 4. 

Refuge. 

Isa. lv. 4. 

Leader. 

Jer. xxxiii. 6. 

Righteousness 

John i. 9. 

Light. 

Deut. xxxii. 15. 

Rock. 

— viii. 12. 

1 Cor. x. 4. 


— xii. 46. 


Isa. xi. 1. 

Rod and branch 

John xiv. 6. 

Life. 

Rev. xxii. 16. 

Root of David. 

Rev. v. 5. 

Lion of the tribe of Ju- 

Cant. ii. 9. 

Roe and hart. 


dah. 

Cant. ii. 1. 

Rose of Sharon. 

1 Tim. iii. 15. 

Living God. 

Mich. v. 2. 

Ruler in Israel. 

Exod. xxxiv. 6. 

Long suffering. 



Rom. i. 3. 

Lord. 

Eph. v. 2. 

Sacrifice. 

Rev. xvii. 14. 


Luke ii. 30. 

Salvation. 

Cant. v. 16. 

Lovely. 

Luke x. 33. 

Samaritan. 


1 Cor. i. 30. 

Sanctification. 

Acts xvii 31 

Man. 

Isa. viii. 14. 

Sanctuary. 

1 Tim. ii. 5. 


Gal. iii. 29. 

Seed of Abraham. 

Matt. viii. 19. 

Master. 

2 Tim. ii. 8. 

Seed of David. 

— xxiii. 6. 


Gen. iii. 15. 

Seed of the woman 

1 Tinuii. 5. 

Mediator. 

1 Cor. xv. 47. 

Second man. 

Ileb. vii. 1. 

Melchisedec. 

Isa. xlii. 1.19. 

Servant. 

Ileb. ii. 17. 

Merciful. 

— xliv. 21. 


Mai. ii. 7. 

Messenger. 

John x. 11. 

Shepherd. 

— iii. 1. 

Heb. xiii. 20. 


Dan. ix. 25. 

Messiah, 

Gen. xv. 1. 

Shield. 

John i. 41. 


Ps. xviii. 35. 

> 

Dan. xii. 1. 

Michael. 

Gen. xlix. 10. 

Shiloh. 

Rev. xii. 7. 


Cant. iii. 7. 

Solomon. 

Isa. ix. 6. 

Mighty God. 

— viii. 11.12. 

























300 NAMES OF THE 

HOLY SPIRIT. 

Matt. iv. 3. 

Son of God. 

Rev. ii. 7. 

Tree of life. 

viii. 29. 
Matt. viii. 20. 

Son of man. 

John xiv. 6. 

Truth. 

Matt. xiii. 3. 

1 Cor. xv. 45. 

Sower. 

Spirit. 

John xv. 1. 

Vine. 

Heb. ix. 14. 

Zech. ii. 5. 

Wall of fire. 

Matt. xxi. 42. 

Stone refused. 

Isa. xxxv. 8. 

Way 

1 Sam. xv. 29. 

Strength of Israel. 

John xiv. 6. 

Ps. lxxxix. 8. 

Strong of God. 

Cant. iv. 15. 

Well of living waters. 

Rev. xv iii. 8. 

Matt. xxii. 12. 

Wedding garment. 

Heb. x. 34. 

Substance. 

1 Cor. i. 24. 

Wisdom of God. 

Mai. iv. 2. 

Sun of Righteousness. 

Rev; iv. 5. 

Witness. 

Heb. vii. 22. 

Surety. 

— iii. 14. 


Isa. xlix. 2. 

Sharp sword. 

Isa. ix. 6. 

— xxviii. 29. 

Wonderful. 

Heb. viii. 2. 

Tabernacle. 

Rev. xix. 13. 

Word of God. 

— ix. 11. 


Heb. iii. 3. 

Worthy. 

John. iii. 2. 
Mark. xiv. 58. 

Teacher. 

Temple. 

Testator. 

Rev. v. 12. 

Heb. ix. 16, 17. 

Heb. xiii. 8 

Yesterday, to-day, for- 

Luke xii. 33. 

Treasure. 


ever. 

Jurats nuii titles nf tjjc lin 

4 l|iirit. 

John iii. 6; 

1 Tim. iv. 1. 

The Spirit. 

1 Rom. viii. 15; ] 
Gal. iv. 5. 6. 

Spirit of Adoption. 


Gen. i. 2; 

— xli. 38. 
Eph. iv. 30. 

I Rev. i. 4. 

! Isa. xi. 2. 

I Acts v. 9; 

! 2 Cor. iii. 17. 

1 Heb. ix. 14. 

| Matt. x. 20. 

1 Isa. vi. 8. 

! Job. xxxiii. 4. 

Luke i. 35. 


i 


Pea. li. 12. 

Nell. ix. 20; 
Psa. cxliii. 10. 
Rom. viii. 9; 

1 Pet. i. 11. 

Gal. iv. 6. 

John xiv.16,26; 
— xv. 26. 


The Spirit of God. 

The Holy Spirit of God. 
The 7 Spirits of God. 
The Spirit of the Lord. 


The Eternal Spirit. 

The Spirit of the Father 
The Voice of the Lord. 
The Breath of the Al¬ 
mighty. 

The l’ower of the High¬ 
est. 

Free Spirit. 

Good Spirit. 

Spirit of Christ. 


of the Son. 


The Comforter. 


Isa. xi. 2. 

2 Cor. iv. 13. 

1 Pet. iv. 14. 
Zech. xii. 10; 
Ileb. x. 29. 
Rom. i. 4. 

Isa. iv. 4; 

— xxviii. 6. 

— xi. 2. 

Rom. viii. 2. 
Rev. xi. 11. 
Rom. xv. 30. 

2 Tim. i. 7. 

Isa. xi. 2. 

Eph. i. 13. 

Rev. xix. 10. 
Eph. i. 17. 
John xiv. 17; 

— xv. 26,&c. 
Isa. xi. 2. 

Eph. i. 17. 


Counsel. 

Faith. 

Glory. 

Grace. 

Holiness. 

J udgment. 

Knowledge. 

Life. 

Love. 

Might. 

Promise. 

Prophecy. 

Revelation. 

Truth. 

Understand¬ 

ing. 

Wisdom. 














































r-t <M CO -S* 


Jtlisnllnnjnns. 


*** The divisions into Fours, Twos, and the like, are made to strike the eye and 

help the memory. 


TEN PATRIARCHS BEFORE THE 
FLOOD. 

4 Adam—Seth—Enos—Cainan. 

2 Mahalaleel—Jared. 

4 Enoch—Methusaleh—Lamech—Noah. 


10 


TEN PATRIARCHS FROM THE 
FLOOD TO ABRAHAM. 

Shem. 

Arphaxed—Salah. 

Eber — Peleg — Beu. 

Serug—Nahor—Terah—Abraham. 


10 


THE SEVEN NATIONS OF THE CA- 
NAAN1TES DESTROYED BY IS¬ 
RAEL.—Numb. xxi. 1-3; Acts xiii. 
19. 

3 Ilittites — Girgashites — Amorites. 

1 Canaanites. 

3 Perizzites—Hivites—Jebusites. 


THREE PATRIARCHS RECKONED 
AFTER ABRAHAM. 

,Isaac. 

Jacob. 

Joseph. 


TEN PLAGUES OF EGYPT. 
Exod. vii. 20. 1. Blood. 


viii. 6. 

- 17. 

- 24. 


— ix. 3, 6. 


- 10 . 

- 23. 

x. 14, 15. 
- 22,23. 


xii. 29, 30. 


2. Frogs. 

3. Lice. 

4. Flies. 

5. Murrain. 


6. Boils. 

7. Hail. 

8. Locusts. 

9. Darkness. 


10. Death of first¬ 
born. 


Exod. xx. 3 

- 4,6 

- 7. 

- 8 , 11 . 

- 12 . 


13. 

14. 

15. 
16 
17. 


TEN COMMANDMENTS. 

I. Thou shalt have no other gods, Ac. 

II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, Ac. 

III. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in 
vaiu, Ac. 

IV Remember the Sabbath day, Ac. 

V. Honor thy father and thy mother, Ac 


VI. Thou shalt not kill. 

VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

VIII. Thou shalt not steal. 

IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness. 

X. Thou shalt not covet, Ac. 


26 


301 



























MISCELLANEOUS 


1 



THE TWELVE TRIBES. 


Numb. i. 5. 

- 6 . 

- 7. 

- 8 . 


1. Reuben. 

2. Simeon. 

3. J udah. 

4. Issachar, 


9. 

10 . 

11 


5. Zebulun. 

6. Ephraim. / Sons of 

7. Manasseh. j Joseph. 

8. Benjamin. 


12 . 

13. 

14. 

15. 


9. Dan. 

10. Asher. 

11. Gad. 

12. Naphtali. 


Levi would have made a 13th tribe, but 
the land was not divided among the 
priesthood. 


THE TWELVE TRIBES AS EN¬ 
CAMPED AROUND THE TABER¬ 
NACLE* 


[south.] 

Reuben—Simeon—Gad. 


THE TWELVE TRIBES IN MARCH¬ 
ING ORDER. 



First body in front. 

Numb. x. 14. 

J udah. 

- 15. 

Issachar. 

- 16. 

Zebulun. 

- 17. 

The sons of Gershon 


and of Merari, 


bearing the tabernasie. 


Second. 

18. 

Reuben. 

- 19. 

Simeon. 

20. 

Gad. 

21. 

Kohathites bearing the 


sanctuary. 


Third. 

22. 

Ephraim. 

23. 

Manasseh. 

24. 

Benjamin. 




Fourth and rear. 

25. 

Dan. 

- 26. 

Asher. 

- 27. 

NaphtalL 



►a 

cr 


*1 

P 


B 





B 


TWELVE MINOR, PROPHETS. 

1. Ilosea. 

2. Joel. 

3. Amos. 


4. Obadiah. 

5. Jonah. 

6. Mieah. 


7. Nahum. 

8 Habakkuk. 
9. Zephaniah. 


jaqsy—una 
[•hiuon] 


10. Haggai. 

11. Zechariah. 

12. Malachi. 


* See Kitto’s Cyclopaedia, b. 27. 


• \ 















































MISCELLANEOUS. 303 


TWELVE SPIES,— 


ONE FROM EACH TRIBE. 



Tribes. 

Spies. 

umb. xiii.4. 

1. Reuben. 

Sham- 



mua. 

- 5. 

2. Simeon. 

Shaphat. 

- 6. 

3. Judah. 

Caleb, 



who en- 

• 


couraged 
the peo¬ 
ple. 

- 7. 

4. Issachar. 

Igal. 

- 8. 

5. Ephraim. 

Oshea, or 
Joshua, 
son of 



Nun. 

- 9. 

6. Benjamin. 

Palti. 

16. 

7. Zebulun. 

Gadliel. 

11. 

8. Manasseh, 

Gaddi. 


or Joseph. 


- 12. 

9. Dan. 

Ammiel. 

13. 

10. Asher. 

Sethur. 

- 14. 

11. Naphtali. 

Nahbi. 

15. 

12. Gad. 

Geuel. 


FOURTEEN JUDGES OF ISRAEL. 
First Judge.. Last Judge. 

Othniel. Samuel 



THREE KINGS OF JUDAIA. 
Saul. David. Solomon. 


NINETEEN KINGS OF ISRAEL 
From 

Jeroboam to Hoshea. 



NINETEEN KINGS, AND ONE 
QUEEN OF JUDAn. 

From 

Rehoboam to Zedekiah. 


THREE IIERODS MENTIONED IN NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY. 

Remarks. 


Matt. ii. 

- xiv. * 
Luke ix. 23. 

Acts xii. 


1. Herod the Great. 

% 

2. Herod Antipas, 

the tetrarch. 

3. Herod Agrippa. 


Son of Antipater, an Idumean nobleman. He 
murdered the infants at Bethlehem, and re¬ 
built the temple. 

Son of Ilerod the Great; married Herodias, his 
brother’s wife; murdered John the Baptist; 
mocked Jesus. 

Nephew of Herod Antipas, and grandson of 
Herod the Great; murdered the apostle 
James; sought the life of Peter; died by 

, God’s judgment. 


SIX MARYS MENTIONED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. 


Matt, i.; Luke i., ii. 

Luke x.; John xi., xii. 

Luke viii.; Matt, xxvii., xxviii.; John 
xx. 


1. Mary the mother of Jesus. 

2. Mary the sister of Lazarus. 

3. Mary Magdalene. 


John xix. 
j Acts xii. 
j Rom. xvi. 6. 


4. Mary the wife of Cleophas. 

5. Mary the mother of Mark. 

6. Mary of Home. 








































* 







THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA. 

Rev. i. 11. 1. Ephesus. 

2. Smyrna. 

3. Pergamos. 


4. Thyatira. 


5. Sardis. 

6. Philadelphia. 

7. Laodicea. 


THE SEVEN DEACONS IN THE 
PRIMITIVE CHURCH—Acts. vi. 5. 

4 Stephen—Philip-Prochorus—Nicanor. 
2 Timon—Parmenas. 

1 Nicolas. 


THE EIGHT BEATITUDES. 

Blessed are 


Matt. v. 3. 

4. 

5. 

6 . 


7. 

8 . 

9. 

10 . 


1. The poor in spirit; 

2. They that mourn; 

3. The meek; 

4. They which do hun¬ 

ger and thirst after 
righteousness; 


5. The merciful; 

6. The pure in heart; 

7. The peacemakers; 

8. They which are per¬ 

secuted. 


TWELVE APOSTLES. 


Matt. x. 2: 
John i. 42-44. 
Matt. iv. 18; 

— x. 2. 

— iv. 24; 

— x. 2. 


Matt. x. 2 ; 
Mark iii. 17; 
John xxi. 22-24. 
Matt. x. 3; 

John i. 43-45. 
Matt. x. 3; 

John i. 45. 

Matt. x. 3; 

John xi. 16; 

— xx. 24. 
Matt. ix. 9; 

— x. 3: 

Luke v. 27. 
Matt. x. 3: 

— xxvii. 56. 


Matt. x. 3; 
Mark iii. 18. 
Matt. x. 4; 

Luke vii. 36, 50. 
Matt. x. 4. 

Acts i. 16-20. 


Peter, so called by 
Christ, or Simon. 

Andrew, brother of 
Peter. 

James, the sou of Ze- 
bedee, brother of 
John, called the 
Great, to distinguish 1 
him from the son ■ 
of Alphasus. 

John, brother of 
James. 

Philip. 

! Bartholomew. 

Thomas. 


Matthew, called also 
Levi. 

James, the son of Al- 
phseus, called the 
Less, or younger 
brother of our Lord, 
as he was a son of 
Alphaeus Cleophas 
by Mary, the sister 
of the Virgin Mary. 

Lebbaeus, called also 
Thaddaeus. 

Simon the Canaanite, 
called also Zelotes. 

Judas Iscariot. 

Matthias, chosen in 
the place of Judas. 


THIRTEEN APPEARANCES OE JESUS AFTER THE RESURRECTION. 

1. To Mary Magdalene, John xx. 14; Mark xvi. 9. 

2. To the other women, Matt, xxviii. 9. 

3. To Peter, 1 Cor. xv. 5 ; Luke xxiv. 34. 

4. To two disciples, as they were going to Emmaus, Mark xvi. 12,13; Luke 

xxiv. 13-32. 

5. The same day at evening to the apostles, in the absence of Thomas, 1 Cor. 

xv. 5; Mark xvi. 14; Luke xxiv. 36; John xx. 19, 24. 

6. To the apostles, when Thomas was present, John xx. 24-29. 

7. In Galilee, at the sea of Tiberias, to Peter Thomas, Nathaniel, James and 

John, and two others, John xxi. 1-14. 

8. To the disciples, on a mountain in Galilee, Matt, xxviii. 16. 

9. To more than five hundred brethren at once, 1 Cor. xv. 6. 

10. To James, one of the apostles, 1 Cor. xv. 7. 

11. To all the apostles assembled together, 1. Cor. xv. 7. 

12. To the apostles at his ascension, Luke xxiv. 50, 51; Acts i. 9,10. 

13. To Paul, 1 Cor. xv. 8; Acts ix. 3, 4, 5 ; xxii. 6-10. 






















rH C* CO O 




fnatnurts of ^ropjjtnj iCniiipnrcii mitlj liatnrtj. 

[the chief instances only being selected and numbered.] 


PROPHECY OF 4 KINGDOMS RE¬ 
PRESENTED BY 4 BEASTS. 

THE FIRST BEAST. 

1. A lion, 

2. having eagle’s wings ; 

3. the wings were plucked; 

4. it was raised from the ground, 

5. and made to stand on the feet, as a 

man: 

6. and a man’s heart [intellect] was 

given to it.—Dan. ch. iv. 


THE SECOND BEAST. 

1. A ram 

2. which had two horns, 

3. both high, 

4. but one higher than the other ; 

5. the highest came up last; 

6. the ram pushed north, west, and 

south, 


7. did as he pleased, and became great. 


THE THIRD BEAST. 

. A he-goat 
. came from the west, 

. gliding swiftly over the earth , 

. ran unto the ram in the fury of his 
power, 

5. smote him, 

6. brake his 2 horns, 

7. cast him on the ground, 

8. stamped on him, and [Turn over.] 


CORRESPONDING EVENTS IN 
THEIR HISTORICAL ORDER. 

ASSYRIAN EMPIRE. 

1. The Babylonian empire; 

2. Nineveh, <fcc., added to it—but 

3. Nineveh was almost destroyed at 

the fall of Sardanapalus. 

4. Yet this empire was again elevated 

to power. 

5. and seemed to acquire stability un¬ 

der Nebuchadnezzar, 

6. who laid the foundation of its sub¬ 

sequent policy and authority. 


PERSIAN EMPIRE. 

1. Darius, or the Persian power, 

2. Composed of Media and Persia— 

3. both considerable provinces, 

4. Media the most powerful; yet this 
most powerful 

5. Median empire, under Dejoces, rose 

after the other; 

6. and extended its conquests under 

Cyrus over Lydia, <fec„ west, over 
Asia north, over Babylon, &c., 
south, and 

7. ruling over such an extent of coun¬ 

try was a great empire. 


GRECIAN EMPIRE. 

1. Alexander, or the Greek power, 

2. came from Europe (west of Asia) 

3. with unexampled rapidity of success 

4. attacked Darius furiously, and 

5. beat him—at the Granicus, Issus, 

&c .; 

6. conquered Persia, Media, <ftc.; 

7. ruined the power of Darius, 

8. insomuch that Darius was murdered, 

&c. 


26 * 


305 














306 


PERIODS OF BIBLE HISTORY. 


9. waxed very great; 

10. when he was strong his great horn 
was broken, and 

11. instead of it, came up 4 notable 
ones 


12. towards the 4 winds of heaven ; 

13. out of one of them a little horn 
waxed great 

14. toward the south and east, 

15. which took away the daily sacrifice, 
and cast down the sanctuary, &c. 
—Dan. chap. viii. 3-12. 


9. Alexander overran Bactriana to 

India, 

10. but died at Babylon in the zenith 
of his fame and power; 

11. his dominions were parcelled among 
Seleucus, Antigonus, Ptolemy, 
Cassander (who had been his offi¬ 
cers:) 

12. in Babylon, Asia Minor,. Egypt, 
Greece. 

13. Antiochus the Great, succeeded by 
Antiochus Epiphanes, 

14. conquered Egypt, &c. 

15. and endeavored utterly to subvert 
the Jewish polity: polluting their 
temple-worship and sacrifices to 
the utmost of his power. 



^trinits Bf Dibit Sistnnj. 


Bible History has been divided into Ten Periods:— 


Period 


I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

V. 

VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 

IX. * 

X. 


The World before the Deluge. 

The Times of the Patriarchs. 

The Journeyings of Israel to Canaan. 
The Administration of the Judges. 
The Monarchy of the Hebrews. 

The Kingdoms of Judah and Israel. 
The Captivity in Babylon. 

The Restoration of the Jews. 

The Age of the Apocrypha. 

The Times of Christ and his apostles. 


* The age of the Apocrypha, though not strictly Biblical, yet intervening between tne 
Old and New Testaments, relates to various important events connected with Biblical 
History. Some, however, omit it, and make Nine periods. 

















€ahlt of lEhrEta €intrs anil /tstinnls. 


Hebrew Months. 

Nearly corres¬ 
ponding with 
our 

Months 
of the 
Sacred 
Year. 

Months 
of the S 
Civil sc 
Year. 

Abib. or Nisan, 
Exodi. 12 : 2, 18. 

“ 13 :4. 

Esth. 3 : 7. 

April. 

1st 

7th ■ 

Iyar, or Zif, 

1 Kings 6 :1. 

May. 

2d 

8th 

Sivan, 

Esth. 8 : 9. 

June. 

3d 

9th 

' 

Tammuz. 

Eze. 8 : 14. 

July. 

4th 

10th 

Ab. 

August. 

5th 

11th 

Elul, 

Neh. 6 : 15. 

September. 

6th 

12th 

Ethanim, or 
Tishri, 

1 Kings 8 : 2. 

October. 

7th 

1st • 

Marcheshvan, 
or Bui, 

1 Kings 6 :38. 

November. 

8th 

2d 

1 

Chisleu, 

Zech. 7 : 1. 

December. 

9th 

1 

3d 

Tebeth, 

Esth. 2 : 16. 

January. 

10th 

4th 

Sheba t, 

Zech. 1 : 7. 

February. 

11th 

6th 

1 

Adar, 

Esth. 3 : 7. 

Ye-Adar is add¬ 
ed here when 
necessary. 

March. 

12th 

6th 



7 estiva!*. 


14. Paschal lamb killed. 

15. Passover. 

16. First fruits of barley har¬ 

vest presented to the 
Lord. 

21. Passover ended. 


6. Pentecost. First-fruits 
of wheat presented to 
the Lord. 


9. Temple taken on this day 
by the Chaldeans, and 
afterwards by the Ro- ! 
mans. < 


1. Feast of Trumpets. 

10. Day of Atonement. 

15. Feast of Tabernacles. 
22. Last day of the feast. 


25. Feast of the Dedication 
of the Temple. 


14 and 15. Feast of Purim. j 
Esth. 9 :18-21. 


307 


/ 





























































































Sfloriis nf Impturt rtpring lEipInnatinn. 


308 EXPLANATION OE SCRIPTURE PHRASES. 



COMMON VERSION. 

Secret parts. 

Ear. 

Spoilers. 

Coultery. 

Carriage. 

oure. 

Assayed. 

Footman. 

Pitched. 

Cruse. 

A gone. 

League. 

Utterly melt. 
Prevented. 

Cursed. 

Go out or come in. 
Princes. 

Knops. 

Chapiters. 

Rulers of Chariots. 
Bestowed. 

Howbeit. 

Charge. 

Cracknels. 

Pavilions. 

Servitor. 

Tower. 

Craftsmen. 

Provoked. 

Magnificat. 

Habergeons. 

Perfect. 

Eschewed. 


1 Sam. v. 9. 

— viii. 12. 

— xiii. 17. 

-20. 

— xvii. 24. 

-39. 

— xxii. 17. 

— xxvi. 5. 

— xxvii. 

— xxx. 13. 

2 Sam. iii. 12. 

— xvii. 10. 

— xxxii. 

1 Kings ii. 8. 

— iii. 7. 

— iv. 2. 

— vi. 18. 

— vii. 16. 

— ix. 

— x. 26. 

— xi. 22. 

— xi. 28. 

— xiv. 3. 

— xx. 12, 16. 

2 Kings iv. 43. 

— v. 24. 

— xxiv. 16. 
IChron.xxx.l. 

— xxii. 5. 

2 Chr. xxvi. 14. 

Job. i. 1. 

MODERN MEANING. | 

Heifers. 

Sandals. 

Lodging place. 

Hinder. 

Number. 

In ranks. 

Turbans. 

Astray. 

Boil. 

Knew. 

Clasps. 

Perfumer. 

Coat of mail. 

Wheat offerings. 

One by one. 

Plain. 

Districts. 

Bear. 

Ammonites. 
Unintentionally. 
Advanced in years. 
Repogeth. 

Camp-army. 

Comrade. 

Sheets. 

Jackals. 

Danites. 

Worthless woman. 

Many. 

Worthless men. 

Spurn. 

Every thing. 

| COMMON VERSION. 

Kiue. 

Shoes. 

Borrow. 

Inn. 

Let. 

Tale. 

Harnessed. 

Bonnets. 

Whoring. 

Seethe. 

Wish. 

Taches. 

Apothecary. 

Habergeon. 

Meat-Offerings. 

Polls. 

Champaign. 

Coast. 

Hereward. 

Children of Ammon. 
Unwittingly. 

Stricken in age. 
Covereth his feet. 

Host. 

Fellow. 

Shirts. 

Foxes. 

(Children of Dan. 

Daughter of Belial. 
Seven. 

Sons of Belial. 

Kick. 

Every whit. 


Gen. xli. 2. 
Exod. iii. 5. 

— 22. 

— iv. 24. 

— v. 24. 

— v. 8. 

— xiii. 18. 

— xxviii. 40. 

— xxxiv. 15. 

-26. 

-29. 

- XXXV. 11. 

— xxxvii. 29. 

— xxxix. 23. 
Lev. ii. 1. 
Numb. i. 2. 
Dent. xii. 30. 

— xvi. 1-4. 
Josh. vi. 9. 

— xiii. 25. 

— xx. 3. 

— xxii. 

Judg. iii. 24. 

— vii. 10. 

— xiv. 13. 

— xv. 4. 

— xviii. 2. 

1 Sam. i. 15. 

— ii. 5. 

-12. 

-29. 

— iii. 18. 




























































a €nhlf Habiting t|t Clirtmolinjtj nf tjit 
inninnr’s lift. 


Years of 
Christ’s 
Life. 

Julian 

Period. 

Olympiads. 

Years of 
Rome. 

Time of Passover 

1 

4709 

193 

4 

749 

March 23. 

2 

4710 

194 

1 

N 750 

April 12. 

3 

4711 

ii 

2 

751 

April 4. 

4 

4712 

it 

3 

752 

April 24. 

5 

4713 

it 

4 

753 

April 7. 

6 

4714 

195 

1 

754 

March 31. 

7 

4715 

ii 

2 

755 

April 20. 

8 

4716 

a 

3 

756 

April 5. 

9 

4717 

a 

4 

757 

March 27. 

10 

4718 

196 

1 

758 

April 16. 

11 

4719 

a 

2 

759 

April 1. 

12 

4720 

a 

3 

760 

April 2.» 

13 

4721 

a 

4 

761 

April 12. 

14 

4722 

197 

1 

762 

March 28. 

'15 

4723 

a 

2 

763 

April 17. 

16 

4724 

a 

3 

764 

April 9. 

17 

4725 

a 

4 

765 

March 31. 

18 

4726 

198 

1 

766 

April 13. 

19 

4727 

a 

2 

767 

April 5. 

20 

4728 

u 

3 

768 

March 28. 

21 

4729 

a 

4 

769 

April 16. 

22 

4730 

199 

1 

770 

April 1. 

23 

4731 

ii 

2 

771 

April 21. 

24 

4732 

a 

3 

772 

April 6. 

25 

4733 

ti 

4 

773 

March 28. 

26 

4734 

200 

1 

774 

April 17. 

27 

4735 

ii 

2 

775 

April 9. 

28 

4736 

ii 

3 

776 

March 25. 

29 

4737 

a 

4 

777 

April 13. 

30 

4738 

201 

1 

778 

April 1. 

31 

4739 

ii 

2 

779 

March 25. 

32 

4740 

a 

3 

780 

April 10. 

33 

4741 

a 

4 

781 

April 1. 

84 

4742 

202 

1 

782 

March 21. 

























SI 'CriblE exhibiting tjje Important dbornte in $10- 
fnnr listorq taring tjjr lift of iCjjrist. 


Years of Christ’s Life. 

1. A plot of Antipater against his fa¬ 

ther, Herod, is discovered. 

2. Antipater is convicted before Quinti- 

lius Varus, and put to death. 

3. Herod dies. Archdaus succeeds him 

in the government of Judea. 

4. This year begins the Christian era. 

5. Caius Caesar, grandson to Augustus, 

passes through Jerusalem tomarch 
against the Armenians. 

7. Tiberius is recalled from Rhodes, 

and returns to Rome. 

8. Caius Caesar dies after his return 

from Armenia. 

9. Augustus, on the death of his two 

grandsons, adopts Tiberius. 

10. Archelaus is accused before Augus¬ 
tus for his maladministration. He 
is banished to Lyons, in Gaul. Co- 
ponius is made procurator of Ju¬ 
dea. 

15. Marcus Ambivius is made procura¬ 
tor of Judea. Salome, the sister 
of Herod, dies. 

17. Tiberius is admitted into the go¬ 
vernment with Augustus. 

18. Annius Rufus is made procurator 
of Judea. 


Years of Christ’s Life. 

19. Augustus Caesar dies. Tiberius 
succeeds him. 

20. Valerius Gratus is made procurator 
of Judea. 

22. Germanicus, the adopted son of 
Tiberius, is sent to quell disturb¬ 
ances in the East. 

23. Germanicus reduces Cappadocia and 
Comagene into the form of Roman 
provinces. 

24. Germanicus is poisoned at Antioch 
by Piso, president of Syria. 

25. Piso, being accused of this murder, 
kills himself. 

26. Valerius Gratus removes Annas 
from being high-priest, and gives 
the office to Ishmael, son of Fabas. 

29. Eleazer, the son of Annas, is made 
high-priest. 

30. Simon, the son of Canith is made 
high-priest in place of Eleazer. 
Caiaphas succeeds him. 

31. Pontius Pilate is made procurator 
of Judea. 

32. Herod puts to death John the Bap¬ 
tist. 

34. Pontius Pilate condemns Jesus to 
be crucified. 


$1jb IfinMn of Stsna, 

ARRANGED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 


Par ab las. 


Parable of thb 
Sower. 

Tares. 

Seed springing up imperfectly. 
Grain of Mustard seed. 
Leaven. 

Found treasura 
Precious pearl. 

Net. 

Two debtors. 

Unmerciful servant. 
Samaritan. 

Rich fool. 


Places. 

References. 

Capernaum. 

Matt. xiii. 1-23. 

U 

- 24-30-36 


-43. 

« 

Mark iv. 26-29. 

it 

Matt. xii. 31. 32. 

« 

— xiii. 33. 

u 

- 44. 

u 

- * 45,46. 

u 

- 47-50. 

« 

Luke vii. 36-50. 

u 

Matt, xviii. 23-35. 

Near Jericho. 

Luke x. 25-37. 

Galilee. 

— xii. 16-21. 


311 



























312 THE MIRACLES 

OF CHRIST. 

P arables. 

Places. 

References. 

Parable of the 



Servants who waited for their Lord. 

Galilee. 

Luke xii. 35-48. 

Barren fig-tree. 

44 

— xiii. 6-9. 

Lost sheep. 

44 

— xv. 3- 7. 

Lost piece of money. 

44 

- 8-10. 

Prodigal son. 

a 

- 11-32. 

Dishonest steward. 

44 

— xvi.1-12. 

Rich man and Lazarus. 

u 

- 19-31. 

Unjust judge. 

Peraea. 

— xviii. 1-8. 

Pharisee and Publican. 

44 

9-14. 

Laborers in the vine-yard. 

44 

Matt. xx. 1-16. 

Pounds. 

Jericho. 

Luke xix. 12-27. 

Two sons. 

Jerusalem. 

Matt. xxi. 28-32. 

Vineyard. 

44 

- 33-46. 

Marriage feast. 

44 

— xxii. 1-14. 

The Virgins. 

u 

— xxv. 1-13. 

Talents. 

44 

- 14-30. 

Sheep and the Goats. 

(4 

31-46. 


€ljt Blirntlcs nf (Cljrist, 

ARRANGED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 


Miracles. 

Places. 

References. 

Jesus 

Cana. 


Turns water into wine. 

John ii. 1-11. 

Cures the nobleman’s son of Caper- 



naum. 

44 

— iv. 46-64. 

Causes a miraculous draught of fishes. 

Sea of Galilee. 

Luke v. 1-11. 

Cures a demoniac. 

Capernaum. 

Mark i. 22-28. 

Heals Peter’s wife’s mother of a fever. 

44 

- 30-31. 

Heals a leper. 

44 

- 40-45. 

Heals the centurion’s servant. 

44 

Matt. viii. 5-13. 

Raises the widow’s son. 

Nain. 

Luke vii. 11-17. 

Calms the tempest. 

Sea of Galilee. 

Matt. viii. 23-27. 

Cures the demoniacs of Gadara. 

Gadara. 

- 28-34. 

Cures a man of the palsv. 

Capernaum. 

— ix. 1-8. 

Restores to life the daughter of Jairus. 

44 

- 18,19,23- 

26. 

Cures a woman diseased with a flux 

(4 

of blood. 

Luke viii. 43-48. 

Restores to sight two blind men. 

44 

Matt. ix. 27-31. 

Heals one possessed with a dumb 


1 

spirit. 

44 

- 32-33. 

Cures an infirm man at Bethesda. 

Jerusalem. 

John v. 1-9. 

Cures a man with a withered hand. 

J udea. 

Matt. xii. 10-13. 

Cures a demoniac. 

Capernaum. 

- 22-23. 

Feeds miraculously five thousand. 

Decapolis. 

— xiv.; xv. 21. 

Heals the woman of Canaan’s daugh- 



ter. 

Near Tyre. 

— xv. 22-28. 

Heals a man who was dumb and deaf. 

Decapolis. 

Mark vii. 31-37. 

Feeds miraculously four thousand. 

44 

Matt. xv. 32-39 

Gives sight to a blind man. 

Bethsaida. 

Mark xiii. 22-26. 

Cures a boy.possessed of a devil. 

Tabor. 

Matt. xvii. 14-21. 




































THE DISCOURSES OF JESUS. 313 


Miracles. 

Places. 

References. 

Jesus 

Restores to sight a man born blind 

Jerusalem. 

John ix. 

Heals a woman under an infirmity 
eighteen years. 

Galilee. 

Luke xiii. 11-17. 

Cures a dropsy. 

U 

— xiv. 1-6, 

Cleanses ten lepers. 

Samaria. 

— xvii. 11-19. 

Raises Lazarus from the dead. 

Bethany. 

John xi. 

Restores to sight two blind men. 

Jericho. 

Matt. xx. 30-34. 

Blasts the fig-tree. 

Olivet. 

— xxi. 18-22. 

Heals the ear of Malchus. 

Gethsemane. 

Luke xxii. 50, 51. 

Causes the miraculous draughts of 
fishes. 

Sea of Galilee. 

John xxi. 1-14. 


l 


€jjt Disrnums nf Stans, 

ARRANGED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 


Discourses. 


Pi aces. 


i 


i 


I 


Conversation with Nieodemus. 

Conversation with the woman of Samaria. 

Discourse in the Synagogue of Nazareth. 

Sermon upon the Mount. 

Instruction to the Apostles. 

Denunciations against Chorazin. &c. 

Discourse on occasion of healing the infirm 
man at Bethesda. 

Discourse concerning the disciples plucking 
of corn on the Sabbath. 

Reputation of his working miracles by the 
agency of Beelzebub. 

Discourse on the bread of life. 

Discourse about internal purity. 

Discourse against giving or taking offence, 
and concerning forgiveness of injuries. 

Discourse at the feast of tabernacles. 

Discourse on occasion of woman taken in 
adultery. 

Discourse concerning the sheep. . 

Denunciations against the Scribes and Phari¬ 
sees. 

Discourse concerning humility and pru¬ 
dence. 

Directions how to attain heaven. 

Discourse concerning his sufferings. 

Denunciations against the Pharisees. 

Prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem. 

The consolatory discourse. 

Discourse as he went to Gethsemane. 

Discourse to the disciples before his ascen¬ 
sion. 


Jerusalem. 

Sychar. 

Nazareth. 

#. 

Galilee. 

>< 


Jerusalem. 

Judea. 

Capernaum. 

t( 

a 


u 

Jerusalem. 

« 

« 

Per«a. 

Galilee. 

Perma. 

Jerusalem. 

u 

« 

K 

. « 

« 



References. 


John iii. 1-21. 

— iv. 1-42. 

Luke iv. 16-31. 
Matt. v.; vii. 

— x. 

— xi. 20-24. 
John v. 

Matt. xii. 1-8. 

- 22-37. 

John vii. 

Matt. xv. 1-20. 

— xviii. 

John vii. 

— viii.; i.—ii. 

— x. 

Luke xi. 29-36. 

— xiv. 7-14. > 
Matt. xix. 16-30. 

— xx.17-19. 

— xxiii. 

— xxiv. 

John xv.; xvii. 
Matt. xxvi. 31-36. 

— xx viii. 16-23. 




































j^nrnhks llccnrM in tljc (Dlii € win mint 


l 

i 


Parables. 

Spoken at 

Recorded in 

Of Balaam.—C oncerning the Moabites 
and Israelites. 

Mount Pispcali. 

Num. xxiii.- 24. 

Jotham.—T rees making a king. 

Mount Gerizim. 

Judg. ix. 7-15. 

Samson. —Strong bringing forth sweet¬ 
ness. 

Timnath. 

Judg. xiv. 14. 

Nathan.—P oor man’s ewe lamb. 

Jerusalem. 

2 Sam. xii. 1-4. 

Woman of Tekoah.—T wo brothers striv- 



ing. 

Jerusalem. 

2 Sam. xiv. 1. 

The smitten Prophet. — The escaped 



prisoner. 

Near Samaria. 

1 Kings xx. 35-40. 

Jehoash, King of Israel.—T he thistle 


and cedar. 

Jerusalem. 

2 Kings xiv. 9. 

Isaiah.—V ineyard yielding wild grapes. 

Jerusalem. 

Isa. v. 1-6. 

Ezekiel.—L ions’ whelps. 

Babylon. 

Ezek. xix. 2-9. 

The boiling pot. 

Babylon. 

Ezek. xxiv. 3—5. 

, The great eagles and the vine. 

Babylon. 

Ezek. xvii. 3-10. 


« 


€ju Jfiirntlts IvtrnrM in fljc 5lrts nf iijt 

Slpnstlrs. 


Miracles. 


Peter heals a lame man. 

Ananias and Sapphira struck dead. 
Apostles perform many wonders. 

Peter and John communicate the Holy 
Ghost. 

Peter healeth Eneas of a palsy. 

1 - raiseth Tabitha, or Dorcas to life. 

|- delivered out of prison by an angel. 

, God smites Herod, so that he dies. 
Elymas, the sorcerer, smitten with blind¬ 
ness. 

Paul converted. 

-heals a cripple. 

—— casts out a spirit of divination. 

— and Silas’s prison doors opened by 
an earthquake. 

-communicates the Holy Ghost. 

-heals multitudes. 

-restores Eutychus to life. 

-shakes off the viper. 

-heals the father of Publius, and 

, others. 


Where wrought. 

Recorded in 

Jerusalem. 

Jerusalem. 

Jerusalem. 

Acts iii. 1-11. 
v. 1-10. 
v. 12-16. 

Samaria. 

Lydda. 

Joppa. 

Jerusalem. 

Jerusalem. 

viii. 14-17. 

ix. 33, 34. 
ix. 36-41. 
xii. 7-17. 
xii. 21-23. 

Paphos. 

Road to Damascus. 
Lystra. 

Phillippi. 

xiii. 6-11. 
ix. 1-9. 

xiv. 8-10. 
xvi. 16-18. 

Phillippi. 

Corinth. 

Corinth. 

Troas. 

Melita. 

xvi. 25, 26. 
xix. 1-6. 

xix. 11. 12. 

xx. 9-12. 
xxviii. 3-6. 

Melita. 

xxviii. 7-9. 


314 






























r -- - - - - - - 

Jfiirinte ilttnrkii in tig (Dlfo 'fetnmrnt. 


_ Miracles. _ 

Aaron’s rod changed. 

Waters made blood. 

| Frogs produced, 
i Lice. 

[ Flies. 

! Murrain. 

Boils. 

Thunder, etc. 

Locusts. 

Darkness. 

Death of the first-born. 

Ked Sea. 

Marah’s waters sweetened. 

Manna sent. 

Water from the rock Rephidim. 
Aaron’s rod budded. 

Nadab and Ahihu consumed. 

The burning of Taberah. 

Earthquake and fire. 

Water flowing from the rock. . 
Serpent, healing the Israelites. 
Balaam’s ass speaking. 

The river Jordan divided. 

Walls of Jericho fall down. 

Sun and moon stand still. 

Water flowing from the rock. 
Philistines slain before the ark. 

Men of Bethshemesh smitten. 
Thunder destroys Philistines. 
Thunder and rain in harvest. 

Sound in the mulberry trees. 

Uzzah struck dead. 

Jeroboam’s hand withered. 

Widow of Zarephath’s meal. 

Widow’s son raised. 

Sacrifice consumed. 

Rain obtained. 

Ahaziah’s captains consumed. 

River Jordan divided. 

Waters of Jericho healed. 

Water for Jehoshaphat’s army. 

The widow’s oil multiplied. 
Shunamite’s son raised. 

The deadly pottage cured. 

Hundred men fed with 20 loaves. 
Namaan cured of his leprosy. 
Leprosy inflicted on Gehazi. 

Iron swims. 

King of Syria’s army smitten. 
Elisha’s bones revive the dead. 
Sennacherib’s army destroyed. 

Sun goeth back. 

! TJzziah struck with leprosy, 
i Shadrach, Meshach, etc., deliv. 

■ Daniel in the den of lions. 

I Jonah in the whale’s belly. 


Where wrought. 

Recorded in 

Egypt. 

Exod. vii. 10-12. 

Egypt. 

20-25. 

Egypt. 

▼ill. 5-14. 

Egypt. 

16-18. 

Egypt. 

20-24. 

Egypt. 

x. 3-6. 

Egypt. 

8-11. 

Egypt. 

22-26. 

Egypt. 

x. 12-19. 

Egypt. 

21-23. 

Egypt. 

xii. 29, 30. 

Egypt. 

xiv. 21-31. 

Marah. 

xv. 23-25. 

In wilderness. 

xvi. 14-35. 

Rephidim. 

xvii. 5-7. 

Kadesh. 

Num. xvii. 1, etc. 

Sinai. 

Lev. x. 1, 2. 

Taberah. 

Num. xi. 1-3. 


xvi. 31-35. 

Desert of Zin. 

xx. 7-11. 

Desert of Zin 

xxi. 8, 9. 

Pethor. 

xxii. 21-35. 

River Jordan. 

Josh. iii. 14-17. 

Jericho. 

vi. 6-20. 

Gibeon. 

x. 12-14. 

En-hakkore. 

Judg. xv. 19. 

Ashdod. 

1 Sam. v. 1-12. 

Bethshemesh. 

vi. 19. 

Ebenezer. 

vii. 10-12. 

Gilgal. 

xii. 18. 

Kephaim. 

2 Sam. v. 23-25. 

Perez-uzzah. 

vi. 7. 

Beth-el. 

1 Kings xiii. 4, 6. 

Zarephath. 

xvii. 14-16. 

Zarephath. 

17-24. 

Mount Carmel. 

xviii. 30-38 

Land of Israel. 

41-45. 

Near Samaria. 

2 Kings i. 10-12. 

River Jordan. 

ii. 7, 8, 14. 

Jericho. 

21,22. 

Land of Moab. 

iii. 16-20. 


iv. 2-7. 

Shunem. 

32-37. 

Gilgal. 

38-41. 

Gilgal. 

42-44. 

Samaria. 

v. 10-14. 

Samaria. 

20-27. 

River Jordan. 

vi. 5-7. 

Dotham. 

18-20. 


xiii. 21. 

Jerusalem. 

xix. 35. 

Jerusalem. 

xx 9-11. 

Jerusalem 

2 Ch. xxvi. 16-21. 

Babylon. < 

Dan. iii. 19-27. 

Babylon. 

vi. 16-23. 

Jonah ii. 1-10. 



























Cubits nf Ibiigljts, Censures, niii B'nnnf, 

MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE. 

1. JEWISH WEIGHTS, REDUCED TO ENGLISH TROY WEIGHT. 


0 lbs. oz. pea. gr. 

The gerah, one-twentieth of a shekel. 0 0 0 12 

The bekah, half a shekel. 0 0 5 0 

The shekel. 0 0 10 0 

The maneh, 60 shekels. 2 6 0 0 

The talent, 50 manehs, or 3000 shekels.125 0 0 0 


2. SCRIPTURE MEASURES OF LENGTH, REDUCED TO ENGLISH 

MEASURE. 

Eng. ft. Inches. 


A digit. 0 0.912 

4mA palm. 0 3.64S 

12 — 3 — A span. 0 10.944 

24 m 6 m 3 m A cubit. 1 9.888 

96 m 24 m 6 m 2mA fathom. 7 3.552 

144 m 36 m 12 m 6 m T5 = Ezekiel’s reed. . 10 11.328 

192 — 48 m 16 m 8 m 2 m 13 m An Arabian pole. 14 7.104 

1920 m 480 m 160 m 80 m 20 rr 133 m 10 m A measuring line.145 11.04 


3. THE LONG SCRIPTURE MEASURES. 


Eng. m. 


A cubit. 0 

400 m A stadium or furlong. 0 

2000 — 5mA sabbath-day’s journey. 0 

4000 nr 10 nr 2 m An eastern mile. 1 

12000 m 30 m 6 m 3mA parasang. 4 

90000 m 240 m 48 m 24 m 8 m A day’s journey. 33 

« 


Paces. Ft. 

0 1.821 
145 4.6 
729 3. 
403 1. 
153 3 
172 4 


Note.—5 feet m 1 pace; 1,056 paces m 1 mile. 























TABLES OF WEIGHTS, MEASURES, AND MONEY. 31T 


4 . SCRIPTURE MEASURES OF CAPACITY FOR LIQUIDS, REDUCED 
TO ENGLISH WINE MEASURE. 

Gal. Pts. 


A caph. 0 0.625 

1-3 = A log. 0 0.833 

6-3 = 4 = A cab. 0 3.33? 

16 = 12 = 3 = A bin. 1 2. 

32 = 24 = 6 = 2 — A seah. 2 4. 

36 = 72 = 18 = 6 = 3 = A bath, ephah, or firkin. 7 4.50 

860 = 720 — 180 = 60 = 20 = 10 = A kor, ch<*ros, or homer. 75 5.25 


5. SCRIPTURE MEASURES OF CAPACITY FOR THINGS DRY, 
REDUCED TO ENGLISH CORN MEASURE. 

Bu. Pks. Gal. Pt*. 


A gachal. 0 0 0 0.141 

20 = A cab. 0 0 0 2.833 

36 = 1.8 — An omer or gomer. 0 0 0 5.1 

120 = 6 = 3-3 = A seah. 0 10 1. 

360 = 18 = 10 = 3 = An ephah. 0 3 0 3. 

1800 = 90 = 50 = 15 = 5 = A letech. 4 0 0 0. 

3600 = 180 = 100 = 30 = 10 = 2 = A homer or kor. 8 0 0 1. 


6. JEWISH MONEY, REDUCED TO THE ENGLISH AND AMERICAN 

STANDARDS. 



£. 

8. 

d. 

$. 

cts. 

A gerah. 


0 

1.3687 

0 

02.5 . 

10 = A bekah. 


1 

1.6875 

0- 

25.09 

20 = 2 = A shekel....,. 


2 

3.375 

0 

50.18' 

1200 = 120 = 50 = A maneh. or mina Hebr. 5 

14 

0.75 

25 

09.35 

60000 — 6000 — 3000 — 60 ~ A talent. 

. 342 

3 

9. 

1505 

62.5 

A solidus aureus, or sextula, was worth. 

. 0 

12 

0.5 

2 

64 09 

A siclus aureus, or gold shekel, was worth. 

. 1 

16 

6. 

8 

03. 

A talent of gold was worth. 

.5475 

0 

0. 

24309 

00 


In the preceding table silver is valued at 5s., and gold at £4 per ounce. 


7 . ROMAN MONEY, MENTIONED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, REDUCED 
TO THE ENGLISH AND AMERICAN STANDARDS. 

£. 8 . d 

A mite..*.. 0 0 0 0.75 

A farthing, about. 0 0 0 

A penny, or denarius. 0 0 I 

A pound, or mina. 3 2 6 

27 * 


far. 

$• 

cts. 

0.75 

0 

00.343 

1.50 

0 

00.687 

2. 

0 

13.75 

0. 

13 

75. 






























$rriptn« $roptr Jinnxts, tnitl; tljnr lignifirntinns, 


A. 

A'aron, mountainous, teach¬ 
ing. 

Abandon, destruction. 

Ab'ana, stony. 

Ab'arim,, passages, furies. 

Ab'da, servant, bondage. 

Ab'diel, the servant of God. 

Ab'don, service, cloud of 
judgment. 

Abed'nego, servant of Nego, 
or light. 

A'bel, He'bel, vanity, vapor. 

A / bel, mourning, when it sig¬ 
nifies a place. 

A / bez, an egg, muddy. 

Ab'i, my father. 

Ab'iah, Abi'jah, the Lord my 
Eather. 

Abial'bon, my father over¬ 
sees the building. 

Abi'athar, excellent, or sur¬ 
viving father. 

A'bib, green fruits. 

Abi'dah, father of knowledge. 

Abadan, my father is judge. 

Abi'el, God is my father. 

Abie'zen, my Father’s help. 

Abigail, my Father’s joy. 

Abiha'il, Father of strength, 
or trouble. 

Abi'hu, he is my father. 

Abi^ah, the Lord is my 
Father. 


Abi'jam-, father of the sea. 

Abima'el, a father from God. 

Abim'eleeh, my father is 
king. 

Abin / adab, my father is a 
willing prince. 

Abin^aam, my father is beau¬ 
tiful. 

Abi / ram, AG^ram, high father. 

Ab'ishag, my father seizes. 

Abish'ai, father of the pre¬ 
sent, or oblation. 

Abist/ua, Father of salvation. 

Ab'ishur, my father is firm, 
upright. 

Abi'tal, father of the dew.' 

Abit'ub, my father is good. 

Abi'ud, my father’s glory or 
praise. 

Ab'ner, father’s lamp. 

A / braham, father of a multi¬ 
tude. 

AVsalom, father of perfect 
peace. 

Ac'cad, a pitcher, a sparkle. 

Ac / cho, close, pressed. 

Acha / ia, grief, trouble. 

A / chan, A / char, bruising, 
trouble. 

Ach'bor, a rat, enclosing the 
well. 

Ach'sah. adorned, bursting 
the veil. 

Ach'saph, poison, tricks, 
bursting the lip. 

318 



SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 


319 


Ach'zib, a liar, running, de¬ 
laying. 

Ada'dah, the witness of the 
assembly. 

A'dah, an assembly. 

Adai'ah, the witness of the 
Lord. 

Ad'am, Ad'amah, Ad'ami, 
Ad'mah, earthly, reddish, 
man, comely. 

N. B. — If the names of the 
ten antediluvian patriarchs, 
Ad'am, Sheth, E'nosh, Ke'- 
nnn, Mahale'el, Je'red, 
E'noch, Methuselah, La'- 
mech, No'ah, be jointly ex¬ 
plained, their signification 
is: man being placed in a 
wretched and lamentable 
condition, the blessed God 
shall descend, teaching that 
his death produced, to de¬ 
based and smitten men, rest 
and consolation. 

Ad'beel, a cloud or vexer of 
God. 

A'dar, A'dor, excellent, stock. 

Ad'di, my witness, ornament, 
prey. 

Ad'on, foundation, Lord. 

Ad'iel, witness of the Lord. 

Ad'in, Ad'ina, Ad'inah, 
adorned, voluptuous. 

Aditha'im, two assemblies or 
testimonies. 

Adla'i, my complaint, direc¬ 
tion. 

Ado / nibezek, lord of Bezek. 

Adoni'jah, my master is the 
Lord. 

Adoni'kam, my Lord hath 
raised. 

Adoni'ram, my Lord is high. | 


Adonize'dek, lord of equity. 

Ado'ram, their beauty, power, 
praise. 

A / doram, double excellency. 

Adrarn'melech, the king's 
glory. 

Adramyt'tium, the court of 
death. 

AduKlam, their complaint, 
their building. 

Ag'abus, a locust, father's 
feast. 

A / gag, roof, floor. 

Agrip / pa, causing pain at the 
birth. 

A'gur, gathered, stranger. 

A / hab, brother of the father. 

Aha'va, being, generation. 

A / haz, seizing, seeing. 

Ahazi'ah, seizure, or seeing 
of the Lord. 

Ahi'ah, Ahr'jah, brother of the 
Lord. 

Ahie'zer, brother of help. 

Ahi / hud, brother of praise. 

Ahi'kam, a brother raising 
up. 

Ahi'lud, a brother born. 

Ahima'az, brother of the coun¬ 
cil. 

Ahi'man, a brother prepared. 

Ahim'elech, brother of the 
king. 

A / himoth, brother of death. 

Ahin'oam brother of beauty. 

Ahi'o, his brethren. 

Ahi'ra, brother of evil, orshep- 
herds. 

Ahis / amach, my brother sup¬ 
ports. 

Ahi'shar, brother of a prince. 

Ahit'opbel, brother of folly or 
ruin. 





320 


SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 


Ahit'ub, brother of goodness. 

Ahla / b, fat, milky. 

Aho'lah, tent. 

Aho'liab, tent of the father. 

Aho'libah, my tent in her. 

Aholib'amah, my high tent. 

A'i, A / iah, Ha / i, a heap. 

A'jalon, a chain, strength, 
deer. 

Ak'kub, supplanter. 

Alame / lech, God is king. 

Alexander, a helper of men. 

AKlonbach'uth, oak of weep¬ 
ing. 

AFmadad, God measures. 

Alphe / U8, learned chief. 

Am'alek, a people licking. 

Ama'na, truth, firmness. 

Amari'ah, word or command 
of the Lord. 

Ama'sa, a people forgiving. 

Amasa / i, the people’s pre¬ 
sent. 

Amasi / ah, the strength of the 
Lord. 

An/mi, Am'mah, my people. 

Ammin'adab, my people is 
free, princely, and willing. 

Ammi / hud, mv people of 
praise. 

Ammi-shad'di, the people of 
the Almighty. 

Am'mon, the people. 

Ara'noD, Am'on, firmness, 
truth, foster-father. 

Amo'ri, commanding, bitter, 
rebellious. 

A'mos, weighty, load. 

A'moz, strong, robust. 

Amphi'polis, a city encom¬ 
passed with the sea. 

Am'plias, large. 

Am'ram, a people exalted. 


Am'raphel, a speaker of hid¬ 
den things, of judgment or 
ruin. 

A / nah, answer, poor, afflicted. 

A'nak. a collar, ornament. 

Anam'melech, king of sheep. 

Ana'thoth, answers, afflic¬ 
tions, poverty. 

An'drew, a stout, strong 
man. 

Andro'nicus, avictorious man. 

A / ner, answer, song, affliction, 
light. 

An / na, An'nas, gracious, af¬ 
flicted, humble. 

An / tioch, equal to, or against 
a chariot. 

An / tipas, against all. 

ApeKles, separation, dis¬ 
course. 

A'pheck, a rapid stream, 
strength. 

Apollo'nio, ApoFlos, ApoK- 
lyon, destruction, a de¬ 
stroyer. 

Ap / phia, fruitfulness. 

A'quila, an eagle. 

Ar, watching, empty, un¬ 
covered. 

Ara'bia, desert, evening, ra¬ 
ven, mixed. 

A'ram, highness. 

Ararat, the curse of tremb¬ 
ling. ^ . 

Arau / nah. ark, joyful cry, 
curse. 

Ar'ba, four. 

Archela'us,* prince of the 
people. 

Archip'pus, master of the 
horse. 

Arctu'rus, gathering together, 

Ard, command, descent. 





SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 321 


Are'li, the light, or seeing of 
God. 

Are'opagus, Mars hill, or town. 

Are'tas, pleasant, virtuous; 
but in the Arabic, plougher, 
tearer. 

Ar'gob, fat land. 

Ari'el, altar or lion, light of 
God. 

Aris'chi, long tail, thy lion, 

Aristarchus, best prince. 

Aristob'ulus, good counsellor. 

Armaged'don, hill of Megid- 
do, or of fruits, destruction 
of troops. 

Ar'non, great joy. 

Aro'er, healthy, naked skin. 

Ar'pad, that makes his bed. 

Arphax'ad, healer, releaser. 

Arte / mas, whole , 4 sound. 

A'sa, physic. 

As-'ahel, work of God. 

Asai / ah, work of the Lord. 

A'saph, gatherer, finisher. 

Ash'dod, Azo'tus, pouring, 
leaning, pillage, theft. 

As / her, Ash'ur, Assy'ria, 
happy. 

Ast/ima, frame, crime. 

Ashkenaz, spreading fire. 

Ashta'roth, flocks, riches. 

A'sia, muddy, boggy. 

As'kelon, weighing, fire of in¬ 
famy. 

Asnap / per, unhappiness of the 
bull. 

As'sir, prisoner, fettered. 

Asyncri'tus, incomparable. 

A'tad, a thorn. 

Athali'ah, bar of the Lord. 

Atta'lia, increasing, sending. 

Av'en, vanity, idols, trouble, 
iniquity, force, wealth. 


Augustus, increased, majestic. 
Aza-'riah, help or court of the 
Lord. 

Aza / kah, strength of walls. 
Az'gad, strong troop, or for 
tune. 

Az'noth, ears, hearings. 
Az'ur, assistance. 


Ba'al, lord, husband. 

BaaKah, her idol, a lady. 

Baal / -be / rith, lord of the cove¬ 
nant. 

Ba'al-ha'mon, lord of the oath, 
or of ruin. 

Bi/ali, my lordly husband. 

BaaKim, lords, idols. 

Ba / al-ze / phon,lord of the north 
or secret. ’ 

Baa / nah, in the answer or af¬ 
fliction. 

Baash / a, in work, seeks, 
wastes. 


Babel, Babylon, confusion, 
mixture. 

Ba'ca, mulberry trees. 

Bahu'rim, choice, valiant. 

Ba'jith or Beth, a house. 

Balaam, a swallower of the 
people. 

Ba'lak, a waster, liker. 

Ba'mah, Ba'inoth, high place. 

Barab'bas, son of the father, 
or of shame. 

Bara'chel, blesser of God. 

Barachi'as, blesser of the 
Lord. 

Ba'rak, thunder. 

Barje-sus, son of Jesus. 

Bar-jo'na, son of Jonas 








322 


SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 


BarZiabas, son of prophecy, 
or comfort. 

Barnabas, son of the oath, or 
return. 

Bartholomew, son of the sus¬ 
pender, of the waters, or of 
Ptolemy. 

Bartime / us, son of the perfect. 

BaZuch, blessed, kneeling. 

BarzilZai, made of iron. 

Bashau, an ivory, change, or 
sleep. 

BasheZnath, perfumed. 

BathZheba, daughter of the 
oath, or of fulness, or the 
seventh daughter. 

Be / dad, solitary, in the bosom. 

BeZlan, in judgment. 

BeelZebub, Ba / alzebub, lord 
of flies. 

Be'er, a well. 

Be / er-la-ha / i-roi, the well of 
him that liveth, and seeth 
me. 

Beer-she / ba, the well of the 
oath. 

Bel, old, nothing. 

Belial, without profit, yoke, 
or ascent. 

Belshazzar, or BelteshazZar, 
master of the secret trea¬ 
sure. 

Ben, son. 

BenaiZrh, son or building of 
the Lord. 

Ben-ammi, son of my people. 

Benha'dad, son of itadad. 

Benjamin, son of the right 
hand. 

BenoZii, son of my sorrow. 

Be'or, burning, brutish. 

BeraZshah, blessing, kneeling. 

Bere / a, heavy. 


BeZith, covenant. 

BerZiice, bringer of victory. 

BesZr, glad news, incarna¬ 
tion. 

Beth, house, temple. 

Bethab / ara, house of passage. 

Beth / any, house of song, hu¬ 
mility, grace. 

Beth-biZe*i, house of my Crea¬ 
tor or choice. 

Beth-car, house of the lamb 
or knowledge. 

Beth'el, the house of God. 

BeZher, division, search. 

Bethes'da, house of mercy, 
pouring. 

Beth-gaZnul, house of recom¬ 
pense, or weaning, or of 
camels. 

Beth-hacZerera, the house of 
vineyards. 

Beth-hoZon, house of wrath, 
or liberty. 

Beth-lehem. house of bread, 
or war. 

Beth-phage, house of early 

figs. 

BethsaiZIa, house of fruits 
fishing, or hunting. 

BethZhan, house of ivory, 
sleep, or change. 

BethsheZnesh, house of the 
sun. 

BethuZl, sonship of God. 

BeuZah, married. 

BezaZeel, in the shadow of 
God. 

BeZek, lightning, in chains. 

Bid / kar, in sharp pains. 

BilZlad, old friendship, or 
motion. 

BiKhah, old, troubled, spread¬ 
ing. 





SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 


323 


Bir'sha, in evil. 

Bithi'ah, daughter of the Lord. 
Bith'ron, division, search. 
Bithy'nia, inner country, vio¬ 
lent haste. 

Blas / tu8, sprouting. 
Boaner'ges, sons of thunder. 
Bo'az, Bo'oz, in strength. 
Bo'chim, weepers. 

Boz'ez, muddy. 

Boz'rah, in distress. 

Bui, old age. 

Buz, despised, spoiled. 

C. 

Ca'lul, dirty, displeasing. 
Cai'aphas, seeking, vomiting, 
a rock. 

Cain, possession. 

Ca'lah, favorable, like green, 
fruit. 

Ca / leb, dog, basket, hearty. 
CaFneh, Cal'no, our finish¬ 
ing. 

CaKvary, place of skulls. 
Ca / nion, resurrection. 

Ca'na, zeal, possession, nest, 
reed. • 

Canaan, merchant, afilicter. 
Candace, governor of chil¬ 
dren. 

Capernaum, place of repent¬ 
ance, or praise. 

Caph'tor, pomegranate, bowl. 
Carche'mesh, a lamb taker 
away. 

Car'mel, vineyard of God. 
Car'mi, my vineyard. 

Cai^pus, fruitful. 

Casiphi / a, money, covetous¬ 
ness. 


Ce / dron, Ke / dron, black, 
mournful. 

Ceuchre'a, a small pulse, mil¬ 
let. 

Ce / phas, rock, stone. 

Ce / sa, cut, hairy, divine. 

ChaKcol, who nourishes or 
supports all. 

ChaKdea, or Chewed, cutting 
with the teeth, milking with 
fingers. 

Che / bar, force, as pure wheat. 

Chedorlao'mer, as a race of 
commanders, roundness of 
the sheaf. 

Che / mosh, handling, taken 
away. 

Chenani'ah, preparation of the 
Lord. 

Cher / ethin8, cutters off, pierc¬ 
ers. 

Chi'leab, perfection of the 
father. 

Chi'lion, perfection, wasting. 

ChiKmad, as teaching, or 
learning. 

Chim'ham, like to them. 

Chi'is, opening. 

Chis / leu, rashness, confidence. 

Chit^im, bruisers, golden. 

Chk/e, green herb. 

Chora'zin, the mysteries. 

Cu / shan-rishatha / im, the 
blackness of iniquities. 

Chu'za, vision, prophecy. 

Cili'cia, rolling. 

Cla'uda, lame, mournful. 

Cle / ment, mild, merciful. 

Cle'ophas, learned, chief. 

Colis / se, whitening, punish¬ 
ment. 

Cornwall, stability of the Lord. 

Co'rinth, satisfied, adorned. 





324 


SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 


Cornelius, horny, sunbeam, 

Cos / bi, liar, sliding away. 

Cres'cens, growing. 

Crete, cut off, carnal. 

Oris / p»s, curled. 

Cush, Cusha/n, black. 

Cyprus, fairies. 

Cyre / ne, a wall, coldness, 
meeting. 

D. 

Dabra'sheth, flowing with 
honey. 

Da'gon, corn, fish. 

Dalmanu ' tha, exhausting 
leanness. 

Dalma'tia, vain brightness. 

Dam'aris, little women. 

Damascus, bloody sack, simi¬ 
litude of learning. 

Dan, D'i / nah, judgment. 

Da'niel, judgment of God. 

Da'ra, race of shepherds, or 
wickedness. 

Da'than, Dothan, laws, rites. 

Da'vid, Dod, dear beloved, 
uncle. 

Deborah, Deb / erah, De / bir, 
oracle, word, thing, bee. 

Deca/polis, ten cities. 

De'dan, their breasts, or friend¬ 
ship. 

DeliKah, small, poor, bucket. 

De'mas, popular. 

Demetrius, belonging to Ceres, 
the goddess of corn. ' 

Der'be, a sling. 

Deu'el, knowledge of God. 

Dia'na, light giving, perfect. 

Di'bon, abundance of under¬ 
standing. 


Did'ymus, a twin. 

Di / mon, red, bloody. 

Dinha / bah, giviftg judgment. 

Dicimy / sius, divinely touched. 

Diotre'phes, nourished by Ju¬ 
piter. 

Do / eg, uneasy, actor, fisher¬ 
man. 

Dor, Du / ra, generation, dwell¬ 
ing. 

Dor'cas, female of a roe-buck. 

DrusiFla, dew watered. 

Dumah, silence, likeness. 

• 

E. 

E'bal, a dispersed heap. 

E / bed-me-lech, servant of the 
king. 

Ebene'zer, stone of help. 

E / ber, passage, fury. 

E / bisaph, gathering, father 

Ed, witness. 

E / den, pleasure. 

E / dom, red. 

Edre'i, great mass, cloud of 
the wicked. 

Eg'Iah, Eg'lon, heifer, chariot, 
round. 

E / hud, the praiser, or praised/ 

Ek'ron, barrenness, torn 
away. 

E / lah, E'lath, an oak, curse, 
strength. 

E / ]am, secret, virgin, an age. 

EKbethel, the God of Bethel. 

EKdad, favoured of God. 

Elea / leh, ascension, or offer¬ 
ing of God. 

Elea / zar or Elu'zer, help of 
God. 

EKhanan, God is gracious. 








SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 


325 


E'li, mv offering. 

E / li, El'oi, my God. 

Eli'ab, my God is a father. 

Elia / dah, knowledge of God. 

Elia'kim, my God arises, or 
revenges. 

Eli / am, my God's people. 

Eli'as, or Elijah, my God is 
the Lord. 

Elia'shib, my God will bring 
back. 

Elia / tha, my God comes. 

Elihc/reph, my God of winter, 
or youth. 

Eli / hu, himself is rav God. 

Elijah, pelican of God. 

E'lim, strong ones, rams' 
hearts, valleys. 

Elim'elech, my God is king. 

Elipha'let, my God of deliver¬ 
ance. 

Eli'phaz, the endeavour of 
God. 

Elishe / ba, Elizabeth, oath of 
God. 

Eli'sha, Elishu'a, extensive 
salvation of God. 

Elishah, lamb of God. 

Elisha / mah, my God hears. 

Eli / hud, my God be praised. 

ElKzur, my God is a rock. 

Elk'anah, God is jealous, or 
possesses. 

Elnath'an, God hath given. 

E / lon, oak, grove, strong. 

E'lul, outcry. 

Elu'zai, God is my strength. 

E / lymas, sorcerer. 

E'mims, terrible ones. 

Emma^us, hot baths. 

Ern'mor, see IIa / mor. 

En or Ain, eye or fountain. 

28 


En'dor, fountain of race, 
dwelling. 

Ene / as, praiseworthy. 

En-egla'im, fountain, or eye of 
calves; chariots, or round¬ 
ness. 

Engi'di, well of the goats, 
happiness. 

En / mish / phat, well of judg¬ 
ment. 

E'noch, teaching, dedicated. 

E'non, fountain, dark mass. 

E'nosh, miserable, despe¬ 
rate. 

En'rogel, the fuller or travel¬ 
ler’s well. 

Enshe'mesh, the sun's well. 

Ep'aphras, foamy. 

Epaphrodi / tus, agreeable, 
handsome, 

Epenetus, praiseworthy. 

E'pah, weary, flying. 

Ephraim, Eph'rath, very 
fruitful. 

E'phron, dust.’ 

Epicurus, giving assistance 

Er, watch, enemy. 

Eras'tus, lovely. 

E'rech, length, health. 

Esarhad'don, binding joy, oi 
the point. 

E'sau, perfectly formed. 

E'sek, contention. 

Eshba / al, or Ethba'al, fire, or 
man of Baal. 

Esh'col, a bunch of grapes. 

Esh / taol, a stout woman. 

Eshtem'oa, hearing, woman's 
bosom. 

E'sli, near separated. 

Es'rom, or Hez'ron, dart of 
joy, division of song. 


« 



326 


SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 


E'sther, a star, excellent 
myrtle. 

E'tam, their bird, or cover¬ 
ing- 

E'tham, their strength, or 
sign. 

E / than, Etha'nin, strong, va¬ 
liant. 

Ethiopia, burnt face. 
Eu'bulus, prudent in counsel. 
E / unice, good victory. 
Euo'dias, sweet savor. 
Euphra / tes, fructifying. 
Euty'chus, fortunate. 

Eve, living, enlivening. 
Evil-mer'odach, foolish Mero- 
dach. 

Eze'kiel, God is my strength. 
Ez'el, near, walking, dropping. 
Ezion-ge / ber, wood, or coun¬ 
sel of men. 

Ezra, help a court 

F? 

Fe'lix, prosperous, happy. 
Festus, joyful. 

Fortuna'tus, lucky. 

G. 

Ga / al, contempt, abomina¬ 
tion. 

Ga / ash, storm, overthrow. 
Gab'batha, high, elevated. 
Gabriel, God is my excellency. 
Gad, a troop, good fortune. 
Gadare'nes, walled in, hedged. 
Gad'diel, my troop, or fortune 
is from God. 


Gai / us, earthly. 

Gala / tia, white, milky. 

Ga / leed, heap of whiteness. 

Ga / lilee, heap, rolling, wheel, 

GaKlim, heapers, rollers. 

GalFio, liver on milk 

Ga / tam, their lowing or touch. 

Gath, winepress. 

Gath-rim'raon, press for pome¬ 
granates. 

Ga / za, or A'za, strong, goat¬ 
ish. 

Ge / ba, a hill, cup. 

Ge / bal, boundary, limit. 

Ge / bim, grasshoppers, high 
ones. 

Gedali'ah, greatness of the 
Lord. 

Geha'zi, valley of sight. 

Gemari'ah, accomplishment 
of the Lord. 

Gennes'aret, garden of the 
prince. 

Ge'ra, Ger'ar, pilgrimage, dis¬ 
pute. 

Gergase / nes, who come from 
pilgrimage. 

Geriz^im, cutters. 

Ger'shom, stranger there. 

Ger'shon, change of pilgrim¬ 
age. 

Gesh / ur, valley of oxen. 

Ge / ther, valley, or press of 
iniquity. 

Gethsem'ane, valley, ;,r press 
of oil. 

Gi'ah, direction, sigh. 

Gib'eah, Gibbon, the hill. 

Gideon, bruising, breaking. 

Gilb'oah, heap of inflamed 
swelling. 

GiKead, heap of witness. 

GiKgal, rolling away. 



327 


SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 


GiFoh, GiFom, rejoicing, over¬ 
turning. 

Gitta / im, two presses. 

Gob, grasshopper, cistern, 
height. 

Gog, roof, covering. 

GoFan, GolFath, heap, roll¬ 
ing, discovery. 

Go / mer, finishing, consuming. 

Gomor'rah, people rebellious 
and fearing. 

Goshen, approaching. 

Goz / an, fleece, nourishment. 

Gur, whelp, dwelling, fear. 

% 

H. 


Ha'bakkuk, embracer, wrest¬ 
ler. 

HachaFiah, waiter for the 
Lord. 

Ha'dad, joy, outcry. 

Hadade'zer, joyful outcry of 
help. 

Hadad-rinFmon, joy, or cry of 
pomegranates. 

Hadar, beauty, chamber. 

Ilades'sah, myrtle tree. 

Hador'am, a cry lifted up, 
their cloak or power. 

Ha / drach, chamber, or beauty 
of tenderness. 

Ha'gar, a stranger, fearing. 

Ilag'gai, solemn feast. 

Hag / gith, solemn rejoicing. 

Ham, heat, brownness. 

Unman, noise, preparation. 

IIa / math, heat, anger, wall. 

IIa / mon-gog, multitude of 
Gog. 

IL Fnor, an ass, clay, wine. 

Ila'mutal, his heat of dew. 


Haname'el, IlananFel, grace 
and pity, from, or of God. 

HananFah, the grace and gift 
of the Lord. 

Han / nah, Ha'nun, gracious. 

Ha / noch, see Enoch. 

Ha / ran, hilly, singing, hot 
wrath. 

Ha / rod, trembling. 

Haro'sheth, dumbness, deaf¬ 
ness, tillage. 

HavFlah, painful, bearing. 

Ha / voth, villages. 

Hashmo'nah, embassy, pre¬ 
sent. 

Haza'el, beholding God. 

Hazarma* rath, court of 
death. 

Hazelelpo'ni, sorrow or plung¬ 
ing of the face. 

Haz^roth, courts, villages. 

Haz / or, court, hay. 

Heber, passer over, wrath. 

He / bron, fellowship, enchant¬ 
ment. 

Hermes, gain. 

He'lan, their army, a dream. 

HeFbon, fatness, milky. 

Held'ai, worldly. 

Helkath-haz 7 urim, field of 
rocks, or strong man. 

IIe / man, tumult, trouble. 

Hen, grace, rest. 

HephzFbah, my delight is in 
her. 

Her'mon, curse, destruction. 

He / rod, glory of the skin. 

HeslFbon, invention, soon 
built. 

Heth, fear, trembling. 

Hethlon, fearful, dwelling. 

Hezek / iah, the strength and 
support of the Lord. 




328 



Hez / ron, see Ezrom. 

Hidde'kel, sharp sounding. 

Ili'el, life of God. 

Hiero'polis, holy city. 

Higgai'on, Hegai, meditation. 

Hilki'ah, the Lord my por¬ 
tion. 

HiKlel, praiser, foolish. 

Ilinnom, their shrieking. 

Hiram, Hur'am, their white¬ 
ness, liberty. 

H^vites, lively, serpents. 

Hobab, favored, beloved. 

Ho / bah-, friendship, secresy, 
debt. 

Hodai'ah, Hodavi / ah, the 
Lord's praise. 

Hog / lah, her festival, throw- 
ing. 

Hoph'ni, covering me, my 
fist. 

Ilor, conceiver, showing. 

Ho / reb, dry, desert, ruinous. 

Horhag / idgad, hill of for¬ 
tune. 

Ho / ri, free man, wrathful. 

Ho / rim, Hormah, curse, ruin. 

Ho / ron, Horona / im, raging, 
wrath. 

Hose / a, Hoshe / a, Saviour. 

Hul, pain, sand, birth, hope. 

HuKdah, habitable world. 

Huphim, Huppim, bed cover¬ 
ing. 

Hur, white, whole, liberty. 

Hu'shai, haste, silence, shame. 

Huzz / ab, molten. 

IIymene / us, belonging to mar¬ 
riage. 

I.-J. 

Jaa'alam, hidden, young man. 


Jaazani'ah, attention, balance, 
or nourishment of the Lord. 

Ja / bal, producing, gliding 
away. 

Jab'bok, emptying, dispel- 
ling. 

Ja / besh, dryness, sorrow, 
shame. 

Ja / be^, sorrow, trouble. 

Ja^bin, understanding^ build- 
ing. 

Ja'chin, establisher. 

Ja'cob, James, healer, sup- 
planter. 

Ja / el, a kid, ascending. 

Jab, everlasting, self-exist¬ 
ent. 

Ja / ir, the enlightener. 

Jan / na, answer, affliction, po¬ 
verty. 

Ja'pheth, persuasion, enlarge¬ 
ment. 

Ja'phia, enlightening, groan 
ing. 

Ja / reb, contender, revenger. 

Ja / red, descending, ruling. 

Ja / sher, upright, righteous. 

Jayson, healer. 

Ja'vin, deceiving, sorrowful, 
clay, dirt. 

Ja'zer, helper. 

IA'liar, chosen one. 

Ich / abod, where is the glory? 

Icf/nium, coming, likeness. 

Id / do, his power, praise, or¬ 
nament, or witness. 

Idume'a, as Edom. 

Je'bus, trading, contempt. 

Jedid / iah, well beloved. 

Jedu / thun, who gives praise, 
his law’. 

Je'garsahadu'tha, heap of 
witness. 








SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 329 


Jeho'ahaz, the Lord sees, or 
takes possession. 

Jeho'ash, or Joash, fire or of¬ 
fering of the Lord. 

Jehoi'achin, or Jeco'niah, 
preparation or establish¬ 
ment of the Lord. 

Jehoia / da, praise or know¬ 
ledge of the Lord. 

Jehoia / kim, the Lord will es¬ 
tablish or raise up. 

Jehona'dab, Jo'nadab, the 
Lord gives freely, 

Jeho'ram, Jo'ram, the Lord 
will exalt. 

Jehosha / phat, the Lord will 
judge. 

Jeho'vah, self-existing, giving 
being or existence. 

Jeho'vah Tzidke-nu, the Lord 
our righteousness. 

Je / hu, himself existing. 

Jehudi'jah, praise of the Lord. 

Jemi'ma, handsome as the 
day. 

Jeph / thah, the opener. 

Jephun / neh, the beholder. 

Jerah, the moon, the smell. 

Jerahme / el, tender mercy of 
God. 

JereinFah, exaltation of the 
Lord. 

Jericho, his moon, his smell. 

Jer'imoth, heights, rejections. 

Jeroboam, the contender, or 
increaser of the people. 

Jerubba'al, let Baal plead. 

Jerubbe'sheth, let shame 
plead. 

Jerusalem, vision of perfect 
peace. 

Jeru'sha, inheritor, banished. 

Jeshi'mon desolation, desert. 

28 * 


Jeshu / run, upright. 

Jes'se, my present. 

Jes / ui, equal, proper, flat 
country. 

Jesus, Jeshu'a, a Saviour. 

Je'ther, Je / thro, excellent, re¬ 
maining, search. 

Je'tur, keeping order, hilly. 

Je'ush, gnawed, assembled. 

Jew, of Judah. 

Jez'ebel, isle of the dwelling 
or dunghill. 

Jez / reel, seed of God. 

Jezzahi'ah, the Lord arises 
brightly. 

IgdaKiah, greatness of the 
Lord. 

Fhaz, quarrel, a dispute. 

Jid'laph, dropping. 

Fjon, eye, well. 

Illy'ricum, rejoicing. 

Im / lah, fulness, circumcision. 

Imman'uel, God with us. 

In'dia, or Ho / dis, his praise. 

Joab, fatherliness. 

Jo'ah, brotherhood. 

Joan'nah, grace or gift of the 
Lord. 

Job, weeping, sobbing, hated. 

Joche / bed, glory of the Lord. 

Jo'el, willing, commanding, 
swearing. 

Joez / er, helper. 

Jo'ha, enlivening. 

Joha / nan, John, grace of the 
Lord. 

Jok'shan, hard, scandalous. 

Jo'nah, a dove, oppressing. 

Jonathan, the Lord hath 
given. 

Joppa, or Japho, comeliness. 

Jor'dan, descent, river of judg¬ 
ment. 







330 SCRIPTURE PI 

Jo'rim, the Lord exalts, or 
casts. 

Jose, raiser, pardoner, Sa¬ 
viour. 

Jo'seph, addition, increase. 
Jost/ua, the Lord, the Sa- 
vic*ir. 

Josi'ah, the Lord burns. 
Jo'tham, perfection of the 
Lord. 

Iphed'iah, redemption of the 
Lord. 

Fra, city, watch, spoil, pour¬ 
ing. 

Frad, wild ass. 

IrFjah, fear, or sight of the 
Lord. 

Is'aac, laughter, jov. 

Isai'ah, salvation of the Lord. 
Is'cah, anointing, covering. 
Iscariot, man of the hire, bag, 
or murder. 

Ish / bak, empty, forsaken. 
Ishbibe / nob, sitting in force, 
in word. 

Ishbo / sheth, man of shame. 
Ish / i, my man, my salvation. 
Ist/mael, God will hear. 
Is'rael, princely prevailer with 
God. 

Is'sachar, hire, recompense. 
It'aly, calves. 

It ha''mar, isle of palm trees. 
Ith'eel, God comes, God with 
me. 

Ithre^m, excellency of the 
people. 

Iture'a, guarded, mountain¬ 
ous. 

Fva, perverseness. 

Ju'bal, produce, trumpet. 
JiFdah, the praise of the Lord. 
Ju'lia, soft and tender hair. 


OPER NAMES. 

JiFnia, young, belonging to 
Juno. 

Jupiter, Lord, and helping 
father. 

Jus / tus, righteous. 



Ka / desh, Ke'desh, holiness. 

Ka / desh-bar / nea, holiness of 
the fugitive son, i. e., Ish- 
mael. 

Ke / dar, blackness, sorrow. 

Kede / mah, eastern, beginning. 

Ke / ilah. the divider, cutter. 

KtFmuel, God has raised him. 

Kt/naz, this nest, possession, 
or lamentation. 

Ke / ren-bap / puch, horn of 
painting. 

Ketu'rah, perfumed, incense 
burner. 

Ke'zia, Cassia, surface, angle. 

Ke'ziz, furthest end. 

Ki / hroth-hattaa / vah, graves 
of lust. 

KFdron, see Cedron. 

Kir. KiFjath, Ke'rioth, city 
wall, calling, reading, meet- 

• ing. 

Kirhare / sheth, city of the sun, 
or with walls of burnt brick. 

Kiria'thaim, the two cities. 

Kir / jath-ar / ba, city of Arba. 

Kir'jath-a'rim, city of watch¬ 
ers. 

Kir / jath-ha / al. city of Baal. 

K i r'j ath-jea / ri m, ci ty of woods. 

Kir / jath-san / nah, city of 
bushes, or hatred. 

Kir'jath-se'pher, city of books 
or letters. 








/ 


SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 331 


Kish, Ki'shon, hard straw, 
old, entangling. 

Kit'tim, see Chittim. 

Ko'hath, assembly, obedience, 
bluntness. 

Ko'rah, bald, frozen, calling. 

Kushai'ah, hardness, or chain 
of the Lord. 

L. 


La'adan, for pleasure. 

La'ban, white, a brick. 

La'chish, walker, self-esister. 

Lah'mi, my bread, or war. 

La / ish, a lion. 

La / mech, poor, despised, 

stricken. 

Laodice'a, a just people. 

Lapi'doth, lamps. 

Laz / arus, helpless, helped of 
God. 

Le'ah, wearied. 

Leb'anon, white frankin¬ 

cense. 

Leb'beus, strong-hearted. 

Leha / bim, flames. 

Le / hi, jawbone. 

Lem / uel, God is with them. 

Le / vi, joined, associated. 

Lib'nah, Libni, whiteness. 

Lib'ya, Lu'bin, hearty. 

Li / nus, nets. 

Lode'bar, begetting of the 
word. 

Lo / is, better. 

Lot, wrapped up, myrrh, 
rosin. 

Lu / cas, Luke, Lucius, light¬ 
giving. 

Lucifer, morning star, light- 
bringer. 


Luz, separation, almond, oi 
hazel bush. 

Lycao'nia, full of wolves. 

Lyd / da, or Lod, Ly'dia or Lud, 
begetting birth. 

M. 

Ma'achah, squeezing. 

Massei'ah, work of the Lord. 

Macedonia, lifted up. 

Ma / ohir, understanding, sell 
ing. 

Machpe'lah, double. 

Magda / la, a tower, greatness. 

Ma'gog, covering, melting. 

Maha / laleel, praised God. 
praiser of God. 

Maha'lath, melodious song, 
infirmity. 

Mahana'im, two armies. 

Mahane'dan, camp of Dan. 

Maher'shalal-hash'baz, hast¬ 
ening to the spoil, he hastens 
to the prey. 

Mah'lah, Mah'lon, song, in¬ 
firmity. 

Makke'dah, prostration, ado¬ 
ring. 

MaKcham, their king. 

MaKchi'el, God is my "king. 

Malchish / ua, my king is a 
Saviour. 

Mam / mon, riches, multitude. 

Mam / re, rebellious, changing, 
fat, high. 

Mana'en, see Menahem. 

Man'na, prepared portion. 

Mano'ah, rest, a present. 

Ma'on, dwelling. 

Ma'rah, bitterness. 

Mark, polite, shining. 



332 


SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 


Ma'ry, see Miriam. 

Ma8re / kah, whistling, hissing. 

Massah, temptation, trial. 

Matri'my, a prison. 

Mattan, gift, reigns, their 
death. 

Mattathi'as, Matthi'as, Mat¬ 
thew, gift of the Lord. 

Mat'that, gift, giver. 

Mebun'nai, the builder. 

Me'dad, a measurer, juice of 
beasts. 

Me / din, or Ma / dai, measure, 
covering. 

Megid / do, declaring, precious, 
fruit, spoil. 

Mehe'tabeel, how good is God. 

Mehuja'el, proclaiming God, 
or blotted out, and smitten 
of God. 

Me'lech, a king. 

Melchi / -zedech, king of right¬ 
eousness. 

Meli'ta, refuge, honey. 

Memphis, drooping, honey¬ 
comb. 

Men / ahem, Mena / en, com¬ 
forter. 

Me'ne, he has numbered. 

Mephibo / sheth, from my 
mouth proceeds shame. 

Me / rab» fighter, multiplier. 

Me'rari, bitter, provoking. 

Mer'curius, merchant. 

iMeri'bah, strife. 

Me'ribaal, strife of Baal. 

Me ' rodach-baaldam, bitter, 
bruising of Baal, the Lord ; 
bruising myrrh, of the old 
lord or judge. 

Me'rom, high place, lifted 
up. 

Mer'oz, seeret, leanness. 


Mesh'ech, Mesh'ach, drawn 
by force, surrounded. 

Meshelemi / ah, peace, perfec 
tion, or recompense of the 
Lord. 

Mesopotamia, between the 
rivers. 

Messi'ah, anointed. 

Methu'sael, death is hell. 

Melfiu'selah, his death pro 
duces, at his death, shall 
be the breaking out, viz., 
of the flood. 

Mi'cah, poor, humble,stricken. 

Micai'ah, Mi'chael, who is 
like God. 

Mi'chal, who has all, all is 
water. 

Mich / mash, the poor, or 
stricken, is taken away. 

Median, Me'dan, judgment, 
habit, covering. 

Mi'grom, fear, farm, throat. 

Mil'cah, queen. 

MiKcom, their king. 

MiKetum, red, scarlet, soft 
wool. 

MilGo, filling up. 

Min'ni, Min'nith, numbered, 
prepared. 

Miriam, Mary, exalted bit¬ 
terness of the sea, lady of 
the sea. 

Mish / ael, who is asked for, 
God takes away. 

Mis'raim, tribulations. 

Mis^ephoth-maim, burning of 
waters, melting furnaces. 

Mityle'ne, purity, press. 

Miza'r, little. 

Miz / peh, Miz'pah, watching. 

Mn'ason, a diligent seeker, a 
rememberer. 





SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES 


333 


MoZtb, of the father. 

Mola'dah, generation, birth. 

Mo / lech, Moloch, MaKluch, 
Mal'chus, the king. 

Mor / decai, bitter bruising, 
myrrh bruised. 

Mori'ah, doctrine, or fear of 
the Lord. 

MoseZoth, teaching, correc¬ 
tions, bonds. 

MoZes, drawn out of the 
water. 

MuZhi, toucher, withdrawer. 

MyZa, flowing, weeping. 

MyZia, criminal, abominable. 

N. 

Na / amah-haa / math, comely, 
pleasant. 

Na'both, Ne'baioth, fruits, 
words, prophecies. 

NaZlab, voluntary, princely, 
free. 

Nag'ge, brightness. 

NahaZai, Na / hor, hoarse, dry, 
hot, angry. 

NahZhon, Na / hash, serpent, 
foretelling, brazen. 

Na / hum, Na / um, comforter, 
repenting. 

Na / in, beauty, pleasant¬ 
ness. 

NaZmi, my agreeable plea¬ 
santness, my comely one. 

Na / phish, refreshing the soul. 

Naph / tali, my wrestling. 

Narcissus, stupidity, sur¬ 
prise 

Na / than, giver, gift. 

NathanZel, Nathaniel, gift 
of God. 


Naz / areth, kept flower, 
branch. 

Neapo / lis, new city. 

Ne'bat, beholder. 

Ne / bo, speaker, prophet, fruc- 
tifier. 

Nebuchadnezzar, Nebos* con¬ 
queror of treasures. 

NebuchadnezZar, Nebos’roller 
of treasures ; others think it 
signifies tears, groans, and 
trouble of judgment. 

NebuzarZdan, Nebos* win¬ 
nower of lords, or judg¬ 
ment. 

NeZho, smitten, lame. 

Nehe / lamite, dreamer. 

Ne'hemiah, comfort, or re¬ 
pentance of the Lord. 

NehushZa, NehushZan, brass 
work, serpent, soothsay¬ 
ing* 

Ner, bright lamp, land new 
tilled. 

NeZi, my light. 

NeZiah, light of the Lord. 

Neth / iuims, given, conse¬ 
crated. 

NiZanor, a conqueror. 

NicodeZnus, innocent blood, a 
conqueror of the people. 

Nicolas, NicolaiZans, con¬ 
quering the people. 

NicZpolis, city of victory. 

Ni'ger, black. 

NimZim, leopards, changes, 
rebellions. 

Nim'rod, rebellion, rulers, 
sleep. 

NimZhi, rescued, touching. 

NinZveh, pleasant, dwelling. 

NiZan, flight, standard, trial. 

No, dwelling. 



334 SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 


Noadi'ah, witness, assembly, 
ornament of the Lord. 
No'ah, rest, comfort. 

Nob, prophecy, discourse. 
No'bah, barking. 

Nod, vagabond, wandering. 
Noh'hah, tottering. 

Noph, see Memphis. 

Nun, son, posterity, eternal. 
Nym'phas, bridegroom. 

0 . 

Obadi'ah, servant of the Lord. 
0 / bal, old age, flux. 

CKbed, a servant. 

O'bed-e'dom, a servant of 
Edom. 

0'bil, old, brought, weeping. 
Oc / ran, disturber. 

CKded, to lift, or hold up. 

Og, a cake baked in the ashes. 
O'hel, tabernacle, brightness. 
Ohom / ri, a sheaf of corn. 
OlynPpas, heavenly. 

CKmar, Om'ri, commanding, 
speech. 

On, 0 / nan, pain, force, in¬ 
iquity. 

Ones'imus, profitable. 
Onesiph'orus, bringing profit. 
0 / phel, tower, obscurity. 
CKphir, abounding with ashes. 
OpK'rah, dust, lead, fawn. 
O'reb, a raven, evening, mix¬ 
ture. 

Ott/niel, the time of God. 
0 / zem, fasting, eagerness. 

P. 

Paa'rai, Peor, hole,opening. 


Pa / dan-a / ram, place of Syria, 
or Syria of the two, i. e 
rivers. 

Pa / giel, intercession with God. 

PaKet, Palti, Phalti, deliver¬ 
ance, flight. 

PamphyGia, all tribe 0 . 

Pa'phos, hot, boiling. 

Pa'ran, beauty, glory. 

Parme'nas, abiding. 

Pa / rosh, a flea, fruit of moths. 

Paru / a, flourishing. 

Pash / ur, extending the hole, 
whiteness, or freedom. 

Pata'ra, interpreting oracle. 

Pathi / os, corner of dew, or 
water. 

Pat'mos, turpentine tree, 
squeezing. 

Patro'bas, father’s steps. 

Pau, crying, appearing. 

PauPus, Paul, little. 

Pedab'zur, redeeming rock. 

PedaPah, redemption of the 
Lord. 

Pe / kah, PekatPiah, opening 
of the Lord. 

PelatPah, deliverance, or flight 
of the Lord. 

Pe / leg, division. 

Pe'lethites, judges, destroyers, 

PenPel, Penu'el, Phanu^L, 
face of God. 

Penin'nah, pearl, precious 
stone. 

Per'ga, very earthy. 

Per' gamos, height, raising 
U P; 

Pe / rizzites, scattered in vil¬ 
lages. 

Persians, Per'sis, Parthians, 
divided horsemen. 

Pe'ter, a rock. 



SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 335 


Pethu'el, enlargement, or per¬ 
suasion of God. 

Phal'lu, admirable, hidden. 

Phar'ez, Pera'zim, breaking 
forth, violently. 

Phar'par, Par'bar, fruitful. 

Phe / be, shining, pure. 

Pheni'ce, red, purple, palm 
tree. 

PhiPcol, completed, mouth. 

Philadelphia, love of breth¬ 
ren. 

Phi / lemon, affectionate kisser. 

Phile / tus, beloved, escaped. 

PhiKip, Philip / pi, love of 
horses. 

Philistines, Palestine, roll¬ 
ing, wrapping, digging, 
searching. 

Philol'ogus, lover of learn¬ 
ing. 

PhinetiaS, beholding, trust 
or protection. 

Phle'gon, burning. 

Phry / gia, dry, barren, burnt. 

Phutah, growing, fruitful. 

PhygeKlus, little,. fugitive. 

Pi-haitoth, pass of Iliroth, 
opening of liberty. 

PPlate, armed with darts. 

Pi'non, Pu'non, beouidine, 
pearl, jewel. 

Pira'thon, scattering, brooch, 
revenge. 

Pis'gah, hill, height, fortress. 

PisPdia, pitchy. 

PPson, changing, doubling, 
wide mouth. 

Pithon. persuasion, gift of 
the mouth. 

Pontius, Pontus, of the sea. 

Pris'ca, Priscilta, ancient. 

Prochotus, chief of the choir. 


Pu / ah, corner, growing, ap» 
pearing. 

PiPdens, shamefaced. 

Pul, bean, destruction. 

Pur, lot. 

Put, or Phut, fatness. 

PutPel, God is my fatness. 

Puteoti, stinking little wells. 

a. 

Quar'tus, the fourth. 

R. 

Raa'mah, thunder, bruising. 

Rab'bath, greatness, conten¬ 
tion. 

Rab, master; Rab / bi, my 
master. 

Ra'chel, injurious, perfuming. 

Rah'ab, proud, quarrelsome, 
'largeness. 

Rak / kath, Rakon, empty, 
spittle. 

Ram, Ratnah, Ra / math, Ari- 

' math'ea, high, lifted up, re¬ 
jected. 

Ramatha ' im-z^ohim. double 
Raraah of the watchmen 

Ra / pha, Ra ' rhu, healing, 
loosing. 

Re / ba. the fourth. 

Rebek'ah, fatted, pacified. 

Re'chab, square, riding-cha¬ 
riot. 

Rp'gim, stoning, purple. 

Rehabi'ah, the Lord will ex¬ 
tend. 

Re / hob, Reho / both, street, wil¬ 
derness. 



336 SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 


Rehobo'am, enlarger of the 
people. 

Re'hum, merciful, friendly. 
Rel, my friend. 

Hem alkali, the Lord exalts, or 
rejects. 

Rem / mon, Rimmon, height, 
pomegranate. 

Repha / el, God heals. 
Repha'im, giants, healers, re- 
laxers. 

Rephi'dim, beds of rest. 
Re / sen, a bridle. 

Reu, or Ragan, his friend. 
Reu'el, Ra / guel, friend of 
God. 

Reu / ben, see a son. 

Reu / mah, lofty. 

Rez / in, voluntary runner. 
Re'zon, lean, small, secret, 
prince. 

Rhenium, breach. 

Rhe'sa, will, course. 

Rho / da, Rhodes, a rose. 
Rib / lah, budding, sifting. 
RifFath, healing, release. 
Riph / oth, watering, dewy. 
Riz / path, bed, coal, free-stone. 
Roda / nim, descending, com¬ 
manding. 

Roman'ti-ezu, exalting-help. 
Rome, strength, height. 

Rosh, head, beginning, poison. 
Ru'fus, red. 

Ruha'mah, having obtained 
mercy. 

• Ru'mah, exalted, rejected. 
Ruth, drunk, satisfied. 

S. 

Babe'ans, see Seba, Sheba. 


Sab'ta, surrounding. 

Sabte / cha, surrounding, oi 
causing to strike. 

Sa / lah, see She / lah. 

Sala / mis, peaceful, tossed. 

Sahi/thiel, Sheal-ti'el, asked of 
God, loan of God. 

Sa'lem, Sa'di m, Sal'mon, Sa- 
lo'me, peaceable, perfect, 
reward. 

Sama / ria, guard prison. 

Sam / la, raiment, left hand. 

Sa'mos, sandy. 

Sam / son, son, service. 

Sam / uel, asked of, and sent to 
God. 

SanbaKlat, secret bush, or 
enemy. 

Sansan'nah, bushy. 

Saph, Suph, Sip'pai, rushes, 
end, flat, threshold, bason. 

Saphir, Sapphi'ra, relation, 
book. 

Sarah, lady; Sarai, mv-lady. 

Sarse'chim, master of the 
wardrobes, or perfumes. 

Satan, burning, adversary. 

Saul, asked, lent, grave, hell. 

Scy'thian, bowman, tanner. 

Seba, Sa'beans, drunken, sur 
rounding, old. 

Se'bat, She'bet, twig, sceptre, 
tribe. 

Se / gub, fortified, raised 
high. 

Se'ir, Shaa'rim, hairy, goat, 
devil, tempest, barley, 
gate. 

Se / mei, hearing, obedient. 

Sennacherib, bush of the 
sword, drought, solitude. 

Sepharva'im, the two books, 
oy scribes. 



337 



SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 


Sera'h, lady of scent, morn¬ 
ing star. 

Serai'ah, prince, or song of 
the Lord. 

Se'rug, Sa'ruch, branch, 
twining. 

Seth, Sheth,placed, appointed. 

ShaaKbim, Shaal'bin, ShaaK- 
bon, pertaining to foxes. 

Shaa'lim, foxes, fists, paths. 

Shaal'isha, three, third, 
prince. 

Sha / drach, tender nipple, fol¬ 
lower of Shaach, the idol. 

ShaKlum, ShaKman, peace¬ 
able, perfect, rewarder. 

Shalmane'ser, peace, perfec¬ 
tion, or reward, chained, 
perfection of Assyria. 

Shan/gar, astonished, stran¬ 
ger. 

Sham'huth, Sham / mah, deso¬ 
lation, astonishment. 

Sha / mir, She'mer, prison, 
bush, loss, thorn. 

Shammu'ah, heard, obeyed. 

Sha'phan, rabbit, their lip. 

Sha'phat, judging. 

Sha'rai, my prince, my song. 

Shara'zer, master of the trea¬ 
sury. 

Sha'ron, a princely plain. 

Sha'reh, a plain, equality. 

Sha / shak, a sixth bag of linen. 

Sheari'ah, gate, or storm of 
the Lord. 

She'ba, Sheb'na, captivity, 
conversion, recalling from 
captivity. 

She'chem, shoulder, part 
early. 

She'deur, destroyer of fire. 

Shekel, weighing. 

29 


She'lah, Sa'la, sending, rest. 

ShelemFah, perfection, peace, 
or reward of the Lord. 

SheFep, drawing out. 

Shelo / mith,.Shu / lamite, peace, 
perfection, or recompense. 

Shelumi'el, God is my peace, 
perfection, and reward. 

Shem, Sem, putting name, re¬ 
nown. 

Shemi' ah, hearing of the 
Lord. 

SbemarFab, guard, or dia¬ 
mond of the Lord. 

Sheme / ber, man of strength, 
or wing. 

ShemFda, name of knowledge. 

Shemira'moth, names of ex¬ 
ultations. 

Shen, tooth, ivory, change. 

She'nir, sleeping, or renewed 
lamp. 

She'va, vanity, height, tu¬ 
mult. 

Shibboleth, stream, bridge, 
ear of corn. 

Shicbron, drunkenness, gift, 
wages. 

Shik/ah, Silo'am, sent. 

Shi / loh, peace, salvation. 

ShinFeah, ShinFei, hearing, 
obedient. 

ShFnar, shaking out. 

ShiplFrah, handsome trum¬ 
pet. 

Shit'tim, thorns, turners 
away. 

Sho / bab, turned back. 

Sho'bach, Sho'pach, a dove 
house. ' 

Shu'ah, a pit, swimming, 
humiliation, meditation, 
speech. 





338 


SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES 


Shu'al, fox, fist, path. 

3hu / nem, their change, re- 
peHting or sleeping. 

Shur, beholding, wall, ox. 

Shu'shan, Susanna, lily, rose, 
.joy. 

Shuthe / lah, planting, drink¬ 
ing-pot. 

Sib / mah, She'bam, turning, 
captivity, rest, old age. 

Sid'dim, bruised fields. 

Si'hon, rooting out, conclu¬ 
sion. 

Si'hor, Shi'hor, black, trou¬ 
ble, early. 

Si / las or Ter'tius, the third 

Silva'nus, woody. 

Si'meon, SFraon, hearing, obe¬ 
dient. 

Sin, Si'nai, Se'neh, Si'van, 
bush. 

Si'on, SFhon, noise, tumult. 

Si'rion, breastplate. 

Sis'era, view of horses, or 
swallows. 

Smyrna, myrrh. 

So'di, my secret. 

Sod'om, their secret; but in 
the Arabic, it signifies hid¬ 
den pit, anxious desire, re¬ 
pentance. 

SoFomon, the same as She- 
lomith. 

So / pater, SosFpater, saving 
the father. 

So / rek, hissing, yellowish, 
vine. 

Sos / thenes, strong savor. 

Spain, rabbits, precious. 

Stephanas, Ste'phen, a crown. 

Suc'coth, So'coth, tabernacles. 

Sue / coth-be ' noth, tents of 
daughters. 


Sur, departure. 

Su'si, my house, moth, ;r 
swallow. 

Sy'char, drunkenness. 

Sye / ne, the same as Sin. 
Synty-'che, fellowship, con¬ 
verse. 

Syracuse, violent drawing. 


T. 


Taa'nah, thy humbler, an¬ 
swerer, or affecter. 

Taa / nah-8hi / loh, fig producer. 

Tabba / oth, sunk deep. 

Tab'bath, goodness. 

Tabe'el, God is good. 

Tab'itha, clear-sighted, wild 
goat. 

TVbor, choice, purity. 

Tabrim / mon, good pomegra¬ 
nate. 

Tad / mor, palm tree. 

TaFmai, Te / lem, furrow. 

Ta / mar, palm tree. 

Tam / muz, concealed. 

Tan / humeth, comfort, repent¬ 
ance. 

Tar'shish, blue colored, ma¬ 
king poor. 

Tar'tak, chained up. 

Tar'tan, their law, or instruc¬ 
tion. 

Tat'nai, overseers of presents. 

Te'bah, butchery, cookery. 

Te'beth, goodness. 

Te / kel, weighing. 

Te / koah, sound of the trum¬ 
pet, or suspension. 

Telhar / sha, heap of the 
plough. 

Telme'lah, heap of salt. 




SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 339 


Te'ma, Te / man, admiration, 
perfection, south. 

Te / rah, breathing, scent. 

Ter'aphim, images, baseness, 
reproach. 

TertuTlus, a cheat, crested, 
singer. 

Thad / deus, praise, confession. 

Tha / hash, hastening. 

Tha / mah, blotting out. 

The'bez, muddy, eggs, fine 
linen. 

Theoph / ilus, lover of God. 

Thessaloni'ca, victory over the 
Thessalians. 

Theu'das, the same as Thad- 
deus. 

Thom'as, a twin, sound. 

Thyati'ra, daughter, sacrifice 
of bruising, labor. 

Tibe'rias, Tibe'rius, from the 
river Tiber. 

Tib'ni, my straw, or under¬ 
standing. 

Ti ' dal, knowledge of high 
things, breaker of the yoke. 

Tiglath-pi'leser, the captiva¬ 
ting work of Pul the As¬ 
syrian, or the wonderful 
binder of captives. 

Tim / hath, figure, reckoning. 

Tim'eus, or Ti'mon, perfect, 
honorable. 

Timo'theus, honor of God. 

Tiph'sah, passage over. 

Tirha'kah, inquirer, dull law¬ 
giver. 

Tir'zah, well pleasing. 

Tish'beh, turning back. 

Ti'tus, honorable. 

Tob, goodness. 

Tobi 7 ah, goodness of the 
Lord. 


Tob-adonUjah, the goodness 
of the supporting Lord. 

Togar'mah, bony, breaking of 
bones. 

To / hu, living, and declaring. 

To / i, Tore, wandering. 

To / phel, ruin, folly, tasteless. 

To'phet, a drum. 

To'phi'mus, well educated. 

Tryphe'na, delicious. 

Trypho'sa, very shining. 

Tu 7 bal, confusion, world 
bringing back. 

Tu / bal-Cain, Cain shall be 
brought back, worldly pos¬ 
session. 

Tych'icus, fortunate. 

Tyran'nus, reigning prince. 

Tyre, or Tzur, the rock, 
strong. 

U. 

U'cal, prevalent power. 

U'lam, their folly, the porch. 

UYla, lifting up, burnt-offer 
ing, leaf, little child. 

Un / ni, poor, afflicted, an¬ 
swerer. 

Ur, light, free, a valley. 

Uri'jah, Uri'ah, light of the 
Lord. 

Uri'el, God is my light. 

U'thai, my time. 

Uz, council. 

Uz / zen-sher / ah, the attention 
of the rest, the ear of 
flesh. 

Uz'zah, strength, goat. 

Uzzi / ah, the Lord is my 
strength. 

Uzzi'el, God is my strength. 



840 


SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 


V. 

Vash'mi, the second. 

Yoph / si, fragrant, lessening. 

Z. 

Zab'bai, my flowing. 

Zab'di, my portion, or dowry. 

Zac ' cai, Zac ' cheus, pure, 
just. 

Zachari'ah, memory of the 
Lord. 

Za / chur, Za'chir, remem¬ 
bered. 

Za / dok, righteous, justified. 

Za'ham, crime, filthiness. 

ZaKmon, Zalmo'nah, shadowy 
image. 

Zilmun'na. shadow, or tink¬ 
ling of prohibition, or com¬ 
motion. 

Zanzurn'mims, projectors of 
crime. 

Za'noah, forgetfulness, deser¬ 
tion. 

Za-'rah, Ze / rah, east bright¬ 
ness, rising. 

Zare'phath, casting of metals, 
a crucible, refining. 

Zebadi'ah, Zebedee', the Lord 
is my portion. 

Zebo'im, painted, deer, ser¬ 
pents. 

Ze / bul, ZeVulun, dwelling. 

Zedeki / ah, righteousness of 
the Lord. 

Ze / eb, wolf. 

Ze'lek, noisy. 

Zelophe / had, the shadow of 
fear. 


Ze / lotes, full of zeal and jeal¬ 
ousy. 

Zel'zah, noontide. 

Ze / nas, living. 

Ze'phon, Zephani'ah, the se¬ 
cret of the Lord. 

Zep'hath, Ze / pho, Ze'phi, 
Ziph'ion, beholding, cover- 
ing. 

Zere / da, Zereda'tha, ambush, 
plan of power. 

Ze'ror, binding, root. 

Zeru'ah, leprous, wasp. 

Zerrub'babel, stranger from 
Babel, alien from confu¬ 
sion. 

Zerui'ah, pain, or chain of the 
Lord. 

Zi'ba, or Zib'iah, army, bat¬ 
tle, stag. 

Zib'eon, painting. 

Zich'ri, my remembrancer, or 
male. 

Zi'don, hunting, fishing, veni¬ 
son. 

Zif, brightness. 

Zig / lag, measure, pressed 
down. 

ZiFlah, shadowy, tingling of 
ears. 

ZiKpah, dropping. 

Zim / rara, song, vine, pruning 

Zim / ri, my pruning vine, son 

Zin, buckler, coldness. 

Zi / on, Sion, dry sepulchral 
heap. 

Zi'or, ship of the watcher. 

Zi'ph, falsity. 

Zip / por, Zippo'rah, Zo / phar, 
turning about, bird, goat. 

Zith^ri, my leanness, my herb, 
savory. 

Ziz, flower, branch. 





SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES. 


Zo'an, motion, laying up. 

Zo'ar, Zair, Zi'or, Zu'ar, 
small chief. 

Zobe / bah, swelling. 

Zo'phah, Zo / phim, Zuph, be¬ 
holding, honey-comb, roof, 
cc vering. 


341 

Zo'rah, leprosy, scab. 

Zur, stone, rock from edge. 
Zurishad'dai, the Almighty in 
my rock or strength. 
Zu'zims, posts of a door, 
splendor, beauty. 





NORMAL PRINCIPLES 


The most improved Methods of Instruction , Vigorous and Progres¬ 
sive Editorials , Practical Hints and Helps fpr the School Room , 
Letters from Actual and Experienced Teachers , giving their Plans for 
Conducting Recitations and Managing Schools, and Notes and 
gfueriss, are to be found Monthly in 


m 


E NORMAL TEACHER; 


The only educational periodical in the world devoted to the dissemination of 
Normal Principles and to practical school worK. it is essentially different from all 
other school journals, in that it gives those principles of teaching which can be 
made to work in every school, and by which the labor of the teacher is made a 
ple asan t, instead of an irksome task. 

£SF*Read its leading articles and see if every one is not full of practical points 
a nd sug gestions. 

g^p—Read its vigorous, progressive and spicy Editorial notes, and compare them 
w ith th e stale and dry n$ws items of other school journals. 

^p"“Read its Grammar Department for the disposition of difficult constructions, 
a nd pra ctical hints on teaching grammar. 

jagr*Read its exposition of Normal Principles for a clear insight into those ele¬ 
ments which make study a pleasure and the work of the school room delightful. 

^p-’Read its Correspondence and learn the different methods of teaching and 
government practiced by teachers of all grades and classes. 

J^gp^ReaditsNotes and Queries for a fund of valuable and unique information. 
g^p-Read its Practical Hints and Helps for the School Room, and get the cream 
of all t he practical ideas published in two hundred educational journals. 

^p"Read its Instructive Paragraphs for gems of thought and words of cheer 
an d en couragement. 

gSP’Read its Educational Miscellany for questions upon which to post yourself 
for exa minations. 

^P*Read its Book Table, and compare its literary notices with those of the 
leading educational journals of the country. 

A NEW FEATURE. 


We have recently opened •» department especially devoted to the preparation oi 
teachers for license In this department will be published the Questions prepared 
by the Indiana State Board of Education for the examination of teachers witn the 
answers to the same, courses of study for those who desire to prepare themselves 
for examination, plans and methods of review, hints in regard to preparation of 
manuscripts, and suggestions to be observed during examinations. 

We shall make this department alone worth many times the subscript ion price to 
any teacher who expects to go before an examiner. 

The following complimentary notice v)ill show something of its reception by the 

teaching public . 

“ The Normal Teacher , edited and published at Danville, Indiana, by J. E. Sher¬ 
rill, is a monthly in pamphlet form, containing about sixty pages each issue, de¬ 
voted to the art of teaching. It realizes what some of its contemporaries fail to do 
that the newspaper is the only proper vehicle of educational news , and devotes its 
space mainly to education-technics. In other words, aims to be what its name 
implies, a normal teacher.— The Chicago Weekly ’Journal. 

Thousands of other notices equally complimentary could be given, but these are 
sufficient. We will send the NORMAL TEACHER for 1SS1 for $1.00. Agents 
wanted in every county in the Union, to whom we offer special inducements. 
Fkase send for our Premium Circular. Specimen copies free. Address 

J. E. SHERRILL, Danville, Hendricks Co., Indiana. 




















The Normal Question Book, 


Price, $1.50. 

A few points worth remembering: 

1. The Normal Question Book was prepared by an experienced 
teacher. 

2. The questions were selected from the examination papers pre¬ 
pared for the examination of teachers in the several states. The 
answers were hunted up from the best authorities on the several 
branches. 

3. Its appendix is alone worth more than the price of the book, 
to any teacher. 

4. It is a valuable book not only for teachers, but for everybody. 
Please read the following notice for proof of this statement: “ Hav¬ 
ing become possessor of a copy of The Normal Question Book, 1 
am pleased with the same. All who examine the work seem de¬ 
lighted with it, even persons who are not teaching and do not in¬ 
tend to teach.” 

5. It is a work of great assistance to teachers in preparing ques¬ 
tions for reviews. Thousands of teachers are now using this book 
with wonderful success in their schools. Many have adopted it as a 
text-book. Many county superintendents use it in their institutes in 
preparing teachers for examination, and the results accomplished by 
its use are truly wonderful. 

6. It is valuable to the scholar, student or pupil, in suggesting the 
best plans of study and in bringing out the leading and fundamental 
principles of each branch of study. 

7. It is of practical value to every family, business and profes¬ 
sional man. No library is complete without it. It is so nicely bound 
that is is an ornament to any parlor table. You could not present 
your friend with a more acceptable gift. 

8. That this book has been long needed is evidenced by the fact 
that nearly two thousand copies were sold before'it was published. 

9. It sends all other “question books” to the shade. Those who 
have bought other question books have laid them aside and are now 
using the Normal. It is as far ahead of all other books of the kind 
as the railroad is ahead of the stage-coach. 

10. It does not conflict with any text-book in use in the schools, 
but can be used advantageously in connection with the text-books 
on any subject. 

11. It is highly endorsed by the best teachers and educators of 
the country. There is but one opinion as to its merits and value. 

12. Agents are reaping a rich harvest with it. There is more 
money in it to active agents than in any other publication of like 
character. 

Copies can be sold to everybody. This book outsells all others. 
You can sell a copy to every teacher at your Institute. Order a 
supply at once and make money. Terms to agents sent upon appli¬ 
cation to J. E. SHERRILL, Prop’r Normal Publishing Hpuse, Dan¬ 
ville, Indiana. 


A PRACTICAL BOOK. 


Normal Outlines of the Common School Branches. 

Designed as an aid to teachers and pupils in the method of teaching by topics. 
For the use of common and high schools, Normal schools and private students. 
By G. Dallas Lind, author of Methods of Teaching in Country Schools. 

This work is a series of outlines, on each of the common branch¬ 
es, making an average lesson for each day of a three month’s term 
of school. The outlines are accompanied by references to many of 
the best text books in use, to larger works on the subjects, and to 
miscellaneous works such as are generally found in public and pri¬ 
vate libraries. 

By means of this work pupils may use different authors and study 
and recite in the same class. No need, of a unilormity of text books. 
It will have a tendency to divorce the pupil from a blind following 
of text books and lead him out to investigate subjects wherever he 
may find them discussed and recite the knowledge thus gained in 
his own language. The subjects outlined are U. S. History, Geog¬ 
raphy, Grammar, Physiology and Arithmetic, with an Appendix, 
giving a complete outline of Infinitives and Participles, with exam¬ 
ples in every possible construction; Programme and Models for 
Parsing, Analysis and diagramming; the use of the Dictionary; 
Test Words in Spelling, &c.; Order of Topics in the Study of the 
Natural Sciences; an Outline of Outlining explaining the different 
systems in use; a List of Books for the Teacher; Model Solutions 
in Arithmetic; Methods of Teaching Beginners to Read, and other 
matter of interest and importance. 

Every teacher who would learn the topical method of 

TEACHING MUST SOONER OR LATER HAVE THIS BOOK. 

This book will lift pupils and teachers out of the ruts by directing 
the studies of the pupils and stimulating them to investigation, and 
pointing out to the teacher the true p^an of recitation. 

We could give many testimonials of this book but have spaee on¬ 
ly for the following: 

“ The author of this volume has gathered here the outlines of 
most of the subjects usually taught in school. For instance, the 
outline of United States History is gathered under sixty-eight heads 
or chapters—‘ Discovery,’ ‘ Subsequent Discoveries,’ T he ‘Aborigi¬ 
nes,’ &c. The same method is employed in Grammar, Geography, 
&c. The method is an excellent one and the subject is very ably 
treated. Mr. Lind has made a volume that will be of real service to 
the teacher who seeks for steady and systematic improvement. It 
will be found valuable to review any study with. We deem 
the volume worthy of being put in every teacher’s hands not only 
but all who desire thoroughness and independence in studies will 
do well to own it.” New York School Journal, Oct. 16, 1880. Sent 
by mail to any address postpaid for $1.00. Liberal discount to school 
officers and agents. Address J. E. SHERRILL, 

Danville, Indiana. 




A BOOK FOR THE STUDENT. 

A BOOK FOR THE TEACHER. 

A BOOK FOR EVERYBODY. 

A COLLECTION OF QUESTIONS ON DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF 

STUDY. 

This system of teaching 1 “ things not in the books ” has been in use in many oi 
the public schools for several years, and has met with almost unlimited success in 
being the means of indicating facts and principles into the youthful mind which 
can hardly be impressed upon the memory in any other way. It will lead to inves¬ 
tigations and researches on the part of the student which cannot prove otherwise 
than beneficial. Creates great interest in schools, at Institutes, wherever used. 

PREFATORY and EXPLANATORY. 

Queer Queries were collected in the following manner, viz: pupils were requested 
to bring any query which they thought would interest others or which they could 
not answer themselves, to the teacher. 

1 he teacher then placed ten of the first queries found in this little book upon the 
black-board and allowed them to remain there from Monday mQrning till Friday 
evening, when they were answered in a general exercise in which all the pupils 
shared equally. 

The result was that the school closed with a good understanding of why the time 
in China and America are not the same, of why the feet of the Chinese point tow¬ 
ard our own; of why the sun seems to rise in the east, of why Patagonia has no 
Capital, &c. 

The time occupied in this work was not to exceed ten minutes. 

The teacher tried this experiment the next week with the succeeding ten questions 
with the school thoroughly alive to this new departure: every question was intelli¬ 
gently discussed by the pupils, both old and young. 

The third week two or three heads of families sent queries (See Nos. 23, 27 and 
29), and the interest increased. The teacher kept up this system with no visible in¬ 
dication of lagging interest for one hundred weeks with the very best results. 

The demand for queries has been so great that we have consented to publish our 
first one thousand “ Queer Queries.” 

How to use Qeer Queries! take the book on Friday evening and call the atten¬ 
tion of the school to such queries as you may have selected by having the pupils to 
mark them by numbers; thus if you think it not best foryour school to take them in 
regular order and you should select Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 13, &c.;— 

have the pupils “ check ” those numbers telling them they may study 
the questions at odd times till the next Friday evening when they 

may see who can answer the greatest number out-of the ten selected. 
Pupils will individually ask you during the week to answer certain questions which 
they fail to find satisfactory theory for. Cite them to text-books, authors or per¬ 
sons within your knowledge where they will probably obtain the desired informa¬ 
tion; iu no case should you give the desired information direct to the individual; 
but should the.school as a body not be able to answer a question satisfactorily, then 
will be the time to help it out of the dilemma by gradually and pleasantly leading 

the school to see and know the why and wherefore of the subject under 

consideration. 

Object of Queer Queries: 

1st. To lessen the care of the teacher and make the school more attractive for 
the pupils by adding spice to at least one exercise for the week. ( The last day '6 
work should be the most pleasant). 

2nd. To form habits of close observation in the growing pupil, and in forming 
these habits which will cling to him through life , give him a fund of information 
which will well repay for all the trouble and time which such a plan imposes. 

Order a supply at once for your school. Agents wanted. No trouble to sell 
this little book. Give it a trial and be convinced. Price, 25 cents; $1.60 per dozen, 
postpaid. Published by the Normal Publishing House, Danvilue, lND» 




METHODS OF TEACHING IN COUNTRY 

• SCHOOLS. 


By G. Dallas Lind. 


Price $1.25. 

This work which is having such an extensive circulation, embodies the practical 
ideas of a teacher whose entire attention for many years has been devoted to the 
elevation of the country teacher’s work. It is intensely practical and to the point, 
being devoid of everything foreign to the subject. 1 hough written mainly for the 
use of the teacher in any school will find in it, more that he can practically applv, 
than can be found in any other work. 

Part 1 treats of “ School Management,” under three heads, namelv, “ The Teach¬ 
er,” -‘The School,” and “The School House.” “The Teacher ” is discussed in re¬ 
spect to x. Moral Qualfications. 2. Mental Qualifications. 3. Physical Qualifi¬ 
cations. 4. Scientific and Literary Qualifications. 5. Personal habits. 6. In 
Relation to Patrons. 7. In Relation to Society. 8. Relation to the Profession. 

3. The School ” is treated in respect to 1. Preliminary Work. 2. Organization. 

“ Conducting Recitations. 4. Government. 

“ The School House ” is treated in respect to 1. Architecture. 2. Apparatus. 
3. Ventilation. 

Part II treats of “ Methods of Teaching ” proper and embraces Reading, Spell¬ 
ing and Defining, Arithmetic, Geography, Grammar, History, Anatomy, Physiolo¬ 
gy and Hygiene, Algebra, and the Higher Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Morals 
and Manners, Model Recitations, Miscellaneous, and Hints and Helps for the 
Teacher. 

The following are a few of the testimonials to the merits of Methods of Teaching 
in Country Schools, on file at our office. 


WHAT THE SCHOOL JOURNALS SAY OF IT. 

The book deserves a place in the teacher’s library and is well worth the price at 
which it is sold. Indeed, we are sure that the purchaser after a careful persusal of 
the book would feel that he had gotten more than the worth of his money—[Educa¬ 
tional Journal of Virginia. 

Its hints are practical and can be taken hold of by anybody who has force 
enough to grasp a plain thing set before him. The discussion of the Recitation is 
well worth the price of the book—[Troy Sentinel. 

One of the most important problems to be solved by the educators of to-day, is 
how to make successful the ungraded country schools. The author’s counsel in re¬ 
gard to methods of teaching is in harmony with that of the best educators of the 
country, and the book is calculated to do a vast amount of good to those for whom 
it is especially designed and we advise all country teachers to secure a copy.—[Na¬ 
tional Journal of Education. 

We could not help wishing, while reading this book, that it had been placed in 
our hands when we began to teach. Such a book should be welcomed, bought and 
studied by teachers.—[Southern Educational Monthly. 

Address, J. E. SHERRILL, 

Danville, Indiana, 





' '■ 

Grammar Made Attractive And Interesting. 


Wake Up Your Dull Grammar Class By Using The 

“iTormal Teadier” IBooks. 

This little book contains forty-eight blank pages ruled and ar¬ 
ranged for written parsing lessons, and several pages reading mat¬ 
ter, consisting of programmes and models for parsing every part of 
speech and for the analysis of sentences. Rules for distinguishing 
the different parts of speech in difficult cases, an explanation of the 
construction of Infinitives and Participles and the relative Pronoun. 
In short, a showing up, in convenient form, of the difficult points in 
Grammar besides the rules of Syntax, explanations and models for 
diagramming sentences and other matter, all of which every teach¬ 
er who knows anything about teaching Grammar will recognize at 
once as the most convenient thing imaginable to have in connection 
with the exercise book for use in the preparations of lessons. No 
one but the live teacher of Grammar knows the time and labor re¬ 
quired in putting these forms and models on the board from day to 
day. The book is by no means a treatise on Grammar, but is sim¬ 
ply matter arranged for the convenience of the pupil to save the 
time of the teacher. Normal teachers will want this little book in 
their schools at once and all who have had, or are having trouble in 
teaching Grammar would do well to adopt it also. It ought to be 
in use in every Grammar class in the land. W hy ? 

1. Because by its use you can secure regularity and order in the 
preparation of parsing lessons and steer clear of the old haphazard 
hit or miss style of recitation which makes Grammar “so dull and 
uninteresting.” 

2. It cultivates systematic habits, is a drill in punctuation, pen¬ 
manship and neatness, and gives pupils something to do. 

3. The use of written lessons gives great life and interest to the 
recitation through the comparisons, criticisms, &c. 

4. By having the exercises corrected each day where mistakes 
have been made, the pupil has his work preserved to him in perma¬ 
nent form, for future reference. 

5. Good teachers do not pretend to teach parsing, analysis, &c., 
in any other way than by the use of written lessons to avoid waste 
of time, secure promptness and certainty of preparation. And all 
will prefer the Parsing Book from the fact that it is sold far cheaper 
than the blank paper can be bought at book stores. When these 
points are taken into consideration all must favor the immediate 
adoption of the book. Retail price 20c per copy. 

Samples to teachers for examination, with a view to introduction 
into schools, 15c 

Introductory rates by the quantity; 6 copies for $1: 12 copies, 
$1.75. Order at once. Address J. E. SHERRILL, Proprietor 
Normal Publishing House, Danville, Indiana. 




2jTO*W 




CREATE AN INTEREST IN YOUR CLASSES. 


SA VE TIME AND TEACH PENMANSHIP, USE OF CAPITALS, AND 
ABBREVIATIONS, DIACRITICAL MARKS, &C., BT USING 

—THE— 

“NORMAL TEACHER” 
BlaanJs Speller- 

BY G. DALLAS LIND. 


In addition to the ordinary ruled blank book for writing spelling lessons it con¬ 
tains the following valuable matter: 

1. Diacritical marks, their names and explanation of their uses. 

2. The principal available rules for spelling, pronunciation, use of capitals and 
punctuation. 

3. Hints in teaching spelling. 

4. Model spelling lessons and directions for using the book. 

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD USE THIS BOOS: 

1. Because by its use you can secure regularity and order in the preparation of 
lessons. 

2. It cultivates systematic habits, is a drill in punctuation, penmanship and neat¬ 
ness, and gives pupils something to do x 

3. The use of written lessons gives great life and interest to the recitation through 
the comparisons, criticisms, &c. 

4. By having the exercises corrected each day where mistakes have been made, 
the pupil has his work preserved to him in permanent form, for future reference. 

5. Good teachers do not pretend to teach spelling in any other way than by the 
use of written lessons, to avoid waste of time, secure promptness and certainty of 
preparation. And all will prefer the Blank Speller from the fact that it is sold far 
cheaper than the blank paper can be bought at book stores. When Jthese points 
are taken'into consideration all must favor the immediate adoption of the book. 

PRICE, 30 Cents. Sample for examination, with view to introduction, 15 cts. 
Introductory rates by the quantity: Six copies, $1.00; 12 copies, 31.75. 

ORDER AT ONCE. 

ADDESSS 

I J. E. SHERRILL, 

Prop’r Normal Publishing House, DANVILLE, IND, 


























































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